Trump: "We Don't Need a Deal with Iran" ... Orders Vance to Investigate Democrats Instead of Negotiating
Reverses course while pursuing renewed behind-the-scenes talks with Iran
Differences over responsibility for Iran war surface after midterm election defeat
Oil prices close higher
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Nov. 12 (local time) that there was no need for talks with Iran and instructed Vice President J.D. Vance to focus on investigating corruption and crime in Democratic-led areas instead of negotiating with Iran. With a resumption of negotiations with Iran expected, Trump’s sudden change of position has once again cast doubt on whether the war with Iran will end.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that day, “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days are long gone,” adding, “We have their hundreds of billions of dollars and their strait.” His remarks were interpreted as emphasizing U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz and economic pressure on Iran.
He went on to say, “I asked Vice President Vance to focus all his attention on the massive corruption and crime taking place in Democratic-run cities and states across the United States.”
The remarks came as the Trump Administration was considering resuming ceasefire negotiations with Iran. Until recently, Trump had told aides and foreign leaders that he was open to resuming negotiations with Iran. Vance was also reportedly given authority to negotiate.
Vance had been establishing a communication channel with Mohsen Rezaei, a hardline leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and considering an in-person meeting. U.S. officials were also discussing, at an early stage, the possibility of direct talks between the two sides to end the war, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.
Just three days earlier, on Nov. 9, Trump said after meeting with the prime minister of Qatar, a mediator between Iran and the United States, that he did not expect airstrikes on Iran to be necessary for the time being.
Trump’s change of position came amid growing attention to differences between him and Vance over the war with Iran. Vance had reportedly advocated a diplomatic solution even before the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran in February.
Bloomberg analyzed that the directive could raise questions about the relationship between Trump and the vice president. Vance is considered one of the leading Republican candidates for the 2028 presidential election.
The WSJ analyzed that Trump could continue military operations against Iran for an extended period without diplomatic negotiations. However, it is difficult to conclude from these remarks alone that the United States has officially ended all unofficial contacts with Iran.
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Meanwhile, oil prices turned higher as the possibility of negotiations with Iran diminished. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for December delivery rose 2.55% from the previous session to $88.74 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for January delivery settled at $95.82 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange, up 3.30% from the previous session.
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