Trump Responds "Low Key" to Iran's Additional Demands... Economic Pressure Over Military Action (Comprehensive)

Iran Demands U.S. Troop Withdrawal and War Reparations

Iran's Inflation Rate Hits 77%... Trump Says "We're Watching the Situation"

Hormuz Strait Agreement with Oman Nears Completion

U.S.-Iran Negotiations Remain at a Standstill

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that despite Iran’s hardline additional demands, he will continue to apply economic pressure while keeping the door open for negotiations, rather than immediately escalating military measures. Negotiations between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages, but talks between the U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked, as Iran is demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops and compensation for war damages, among other conditions.

On August 9 (local time), President Trump spoke by phone with U.S. online media outlet Axios about Iran, saying, “We are low keying it,” and added, “We are only semi-negotiating with them.”

He also underscored the seriousness of the Iranian economy. President Trump said, “We are just watching the situation in Iran, where they are suffering from massive inflation and don’t have any money,” and described Iran as being in “very difficult circumstances.”

According to Bloomberg News, Iran’s central bank recently reported that inflation stood at 77% year-on-year. President Trump claimed that the Iranian government lacks funds to pay its soldiers, and that the U.S. naval blockade has further compounded the regime’s economic difficulties.

President Trump maintained an optimistic stance regarding the deadlock in negotiations with Iran. He said, “It will work out well,” adding, “It always works out well. This is like a chess game.”

Notably, during this phone call, he did not mention any possibility of new military strikes against Iran. He also did not publicly express dissatisfaction with the unresolved agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

Foreign media such as Axios assessed that although Iran continues to reject U.S. demands, President Trump currently favors maintaining economic pressure over launching further military attacks as he waits for a change in Iran’s stance.

President Trump previously revealed that he canceled a large-scale military strike against Iran on August 1 at the request of Middle Eastern nations, and urged a swift agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Since then, Iran and Oman have made significant progress in negotiations to establish a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels. While talks between Iran and Oman are nearing conclusion, negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain stalled.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), announced in a statement the day before that Iran has set six preconditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: lifting the U.S.-imposed maritime blockade, withdrawal of U.S. troops from areas surrounding Iran, lifting of anti-Iran sanctions, returning frozen assets, compensation for war damages, and other demands. These conditions are even tougher than those set forth in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) previously arranged between the U.S. and Iran.

Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, also told reporters in Tehran that intermediary countries are working to lay the foundation to resume negotiations, but added, “There is no prospect of restarting talks until the U.S. ceases breaches of the MOU and provides compensation for its violations.” He explained that direct negotiations are not taking place with the U.S., and that only messages are being conveyed through mediators.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said in a Fox News interview the previous day that there has been some recent progress in negotiations, but emphasized that the key issue is whether Iran can accept the conditions demanded by the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.