War with Iran: Trump orders Vance to drop talks
The president claims the US holds Iran's money and the Strait, ending diplomatic efforts just days after midterms.
By Rosa Fuentes ·
President Donald Trump abruptly ended the diplomatic track with Iran on Thursday, telling Vice President JD Vance to stop negotiating and focus on domestic corruption.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States does not "need a deal" with Tehran. He claimed the US currently holds "Hundreds of Billions of Dollars" in Iranian funds and control over the Strait. The president directed Vance to place his "complete and total attention" on rooting out crime and corruption in Democratic cities and states.
The announcement contradicts the recent acceleration of quiet negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Those talks aimed to prevent a return to all-out war and open the door to broader agreements. Trump's shift comes shortly after Republicans lost the midterm elections badly last week. Vance had publicly blamed the conflict for the party's defeat, a move many viewed as him distancing himself from the war ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid.
Top White House officials have sped up internal discussions about ending the war following the electoral loss. Trump admitted the conflict largely caused the party's defeat, though he insisted he would not change his approach if given another chance.
The president told CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday that he was "not looking" to escalate the war. On Monday, he stated in the White House briefing room that it would "won't be necessary" to take further military action.
Vance is now tasked with overseeing anti-corruption efforts in Democratic jurisdictions. Trump's social media post serves as the formal directive to halt the current diplomatic initiative.
