President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he believed the conflict with Iran could conclude in the near term, while also leaving open the possibility of additional military action ahead of the November midterm elections. Speaking at the PGA Tour Presidents Cup, Trump was questioned about the possibility of renewed strikes on Iran before the election, to which he replied that he preferred not to comment on that matter. He acknowledged the possibility existed but indicated he preferred not to make such a statement.
Trump predicted that petroleum prices would return to pre-conflict levels once hostilities concluded, expressing confidence that a swift resolution was forthcoming. He stated that stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was central to the overall effort, and that operations against Iran on both the military and economic fronts were yielding positive results, adding that he saw progress on each front. He asserted that the conflict had effectively been decided on a military basis, while also contending that Iran's economy was under considerable strain and that the overall position remained favourable.
Trump characterised Iran's economy as being in a state of near-total breakdown, adding that annual inflation had climbed to close to 300 percent. He stated that the tariff figure he had encountered was 318 percent, and asserted that Iran's currency, economy, and armed forces were all in a state of severe deterioration.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran was awaiting a clear answer to its most recent proposal on resuming access through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran put forward a proposal to reopen the strategically positioned waterway within a week and to restart nuclear talks, on the condition that certain requirements were met, among them the withdrawal of a naval blockade and the removal of oil-related sanctions. Araghchi noted that while the president's initial reaction had been observed publicly, no formal communication had yet been received through intermediary channels, adding that the president had at various times made both constructive and contradictory statements.
"Final positions are still being relayed through the mediators before any decision can be reached," Araghchi said. Trump, over the weekend, stated that the proposal fell short of acceptable terms. He noted that Iran sought to reopen the Strait from a position of weakness, while also stating that the terms on offer did not meet the conditions required by his administration, adding that he viewed Iran's apparent willingness to negotiate as an acceptable development. He noted a willingness to reach an agreement, while stating that the terms on the table would not meet his requirements.
Trump told a television network on Sunday that additional negotiations with Iran were anticipated that week, adding that while Iranian officials were open to reaching an agreement, the terms on offer did not align with his own position. The terms on offer, he indicated, aligned with what had been considered acceptable approximately twelve months prior.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz remarked that Tehran had miscalculated its position, explaining that Trump had rejected the proposal because Iran had not been negotiating in good faith, having sought all concessions upfront while offering only to continue talks at a later stage. Waltz subsequently characterised the Iranian offer as a calculated move to table a proposal both parties understood would never be accepted.
Waltz added that the question of who held the authority to speak on behalf of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained an ongoing concern for Washington, noting that any delegation at the table would need to be able to genuinely represent the Ayatollah's position — an issue he described as one that had repeatedly posed difficulties for those involved in past negotiations. Questions also remained, according to Waltz, over who holds authority over Iran's governance at present, whether the attack was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and whether certain individuals hold the offices attributed to them.
Araghchi stated that the terms for reopening the Strait were aligned with those outlined in a US-Iran memorandum of understanding concluded in June, which had subsequently broken down as hostilities resumed, adding that normal maritime transit could be restored within seven days once those terms were fulfilled. He told reporters on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York that the matter now rested with the United States, and that no country could carry out air strikes, issue threats of annihilation, impose a naval blockade, and apply coercive pressure on another while anticipating an automatic restoration of calm and unrestricted maritime passage.
A White House spokesperson described the talks as proceeding through mediators in a constructive manner, adding that the administration saw no urgency given what it characterised as a position of strength related to access through the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that reaching any deal with Iran would demand extensive effort over an extended period.
According to unnamed government sources cited by a television network, Trump reportedly informed aides that airstrikes on Iran were probable following the midterm elections. According to those briefers, his stance may shift over the next few weeks.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Trump outlined that he faced a consequential choice between negotiating an agreement with Iran or pursuing its destruction, asking whether a deal could be reached that would allow the country to rebuild and develop into a stronger nation than it had previously been. "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again," he said. Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said on Sunday that the United States could launch another attack because of its "bad regional situation," according to a news channel.
