Trump: New Iran Strikes ‘Highly Unlikely’ If Talks HoldWorld

At the same time, he kept the threat of force on the table. Mr Trump said that if strikes resumed, the United States had identified potential targets, including 38 bridges that he said American forces could knock down in literally one hour. Later on Sunday, he posted on Truth Social that “Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect” on Iran, a campaign aimed at cracking down on Tehran’s movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material over its land borders and through the Caspian Sea.

The president acknowledged that the Iran war had played a part in the Republicans’ defeat in last week’s midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance went further in a social media post, writing: “The reason we lost is the war.” Mr Trump told reporters on Sunday that a lot of people did not like Mr Vance’s comments.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on Sunday on any link between the war and the elections. Asked about diplomatic efforts, he said he did not believe a breakthrough was imminent, adding that the president would always prefer to solve problems diplomatically. He described Iran’s demands as not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.

Mr Trump had been hinting that he would renew major attacks on Iran once the elections were over, but there has been no sign of a large-scale American military operation. Iran has said it would respond by striking American and Israeli targets if attacked again.

Both sides have meanwhile reported attacks on shipping in or near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said two oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines while trying to pass through an unauthorised route, and a third tanker had also suffered an explosion and caught fire, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The United States said its air force had disabled a vessel in the Gulf of Oman beyond the strait. Monitors from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an incident involving a bulk carrier and military forces about 18 nautical miles east of the Emirati city of Khor Fakkan. Reuters said it was not able to confirm the reported strikes.

Qatar, which has been mediating in talks to end a conflict that has shaken the world economy, on Saturday denied reports that the United States and Iran had failed to reach a deal. Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, saying the United States was reviewing it but that discussions would depend on Washington first meeting Tehran’s seven demands. Those include sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and war reparations, while Washington says nuclear issues must feature in the initial talks. The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and is now in its ninth month.