Trump Iran Policy: President Says US Does Not Need Deal, Redirects Vance to Domestic Issues

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington does not need a deal with Iran, while directing Vice President JD Vance to shift his “complete and total attention” towards alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-run cities and states.

The directive came a day after The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance was considering face-to-face peace talks with a senior Iranian security official. It also followed the vice president’s recent comments linking the costly war with Iran to Republicans’ poor performance in the midterm elections.

“We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed,” Trump wrote on social media, referring to the Strait of Hormuz and claiming that the United States had secured substantial financial and strategic leverage over Tehran.

Trump had suggested in recent weeks that Iran might become more willing to negotiate after the US elections. However, his administration has indicated this week that it believes the US blockade and economic sanctions are putting sufficient pressure on Tehran, reducing the need for either further military escalation or diplomatic negotiations.

The US military is maintaining a blockade on Iranian ports while seeking to secure safe passage for international shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s military said on Thursday that four oil tankers had been hit by explosions after ignoring Iranian warnings. The reported incidents have added to concerns over maritime security and the wider regional conflict.

Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Vance had previously played a central role in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Long regarded as sceptical of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February, he led negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan in April.

Those discussions produced a June memorandum of understanding that temporarily paused the conflict, but the arrangement broke down within weeks.

Iranian state media reported late last month that Tehran had received a letter from Vance seeking renewed talks with Washington. Trump subsequently said he had not instructed the vice president to initiate the outreach.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking after discussions with US allies in Paris on Tuesday, described Iran’s demands for a potential agreement as “absurd”. He cited Tehran’s demand for war reparations and said Trump would not accept an unfavourable deal.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance was considering meeting a senior Iranian security official, potentially placing him at the centre of renewed peace negotiations. Reuters said it had not independently confirmed the reported talks.

Vance, who is viewed as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, also distanced himself from the war last week following the Democrats’ gains in the midterm elections.

He partly blamed the conflict’s financial costs for the Republican Party’s electoral losses and said an earlier recommendation to end the war had been “sound advice”.

Trump responded by defending the military campaign, arguing that it was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

In his Thursday social media post, the president said he had asked Vance to concentrate instead on a domestic initiative previously assigned to him: investigating alleged fraud in Democratic-run cities and states.

Trump claimed that addressing what he described as large-scale criminal activity could help balance the federal budget. He also accused Democratic leadership of widespread corruption.

The latest remarks highlight uncertainty over the direction of US policy towards Iran, particularly as military pressure, economic sanctions and diplomatic efforts continue to shape the conflict.