US President Donald Trump has said fresh American strikes on Iran are highly unlikely while talks to end the war keep moving forward. He made the remarks in a 20-minute phone interview with CNN on Sunday, and repeated the point five times during the conversation.
Why Talks Matter Now
Trump tied any decision on new strikes to one clear condition: a deal. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto. “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary.”
The talks cover two big issues: Iran’s nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea passage that carries a large share of the world’s oil. Qatar is acting as mediator between the two sides. Iran has handed over a nuclear proposal through Qatar, and Doha has denied reports that the talks have failed.
Trump painted a bleak picture of Iran’s position. He called it “a failing nation” and pointed to inflation of 301% this year, a figure he cited during the interview. “They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off,” he said.
But he also stressed that he would rather not order new strikes. “Most likely it will not be necessary,” he said. “They want to make a deal so badly.”
Oil Prices Fall After Remarks
Oil markets reacted fast to Trump’s words. Prices fell when trading opened on Monday, as traders priced in a lower risk of a wider war.
Brent crude slipped to $97.67 a barrel, while US WTI crude fell to $90.51, according to Reuters. The drop matters because any new fighting near the Strait of Hormuz could push fuel prices up around the world, including in Pakistan.
The fall came even though tensions on the water remain high. Oil tankers passing through the strait have come under attack in recent weeks, and Iran says two tankers caught fire after hitting mines. The US has also launched a task force to block Iran from moving weapons over land, and Washington is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear programme.
US Military Buildup Near Iran
Trump made clear that US forces are in place if he changes his mind. “We’re ready for it. I’ve got three aircraft carriers here. The other one just arrived. We have three. They’re fully locked and loaded,” he said.
He also listed targets the US has already picked out inside Iran, including power plants and bridges. “We have 38 bridges in our site that we can knock down in literally one hour,” he said. “They’ll all be down.”
At the same time, he said he does not want to destroy that infrastructure. “I don’t want to do that because essentially, it’ll take 10 years to rebuild them,” he said. “I don’t like ripping down bridges. And the hardest thing to build is a bridge. It takes years, and I’m a good builder.”
Trump also claimed Iran’s defences are badly weakened. He said all of Iran’s anti-aircraft systems are gone, and put its remaining missile capacity at 10% and drone capacity at 15%. These are Trump’s own claims; Iran has not confirmed them.
Background: Eight Months of War
The war between the US and Iran began eight months ago, and the two sides have been stuck in a stalemate since, with little fighting and little diplomatic progress. Diplomatic activity has picked up since Tuesday’s US midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republican Party lost ground — a result partly blamed on the war’s unpopularity with voters.
On Friday, Qatar said Trump had called Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss de-escalation. A day earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus and Qatar.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded cautious before leaving on Sunday for a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris. “I wouldn’t say we’re on the verge of a breakthrough,” he told reporters. “Right now, it hasn’t been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.”
For now, the message from Trump is that talks have a real chance — but the military option stays on the table.
Key Figures
| Interview length | 20 minutes, phone call with CNN |
| Times Trump repeated “highly unlikely” | 5 |
| Inflation in Iran (Trump’s figure) | 301% this year |
| US aircraft carriers in region | 3 |
| Bridges identified as targets | 38 |
| Iran missile capacity left (Trump’s claim) | 10% |
| Iran drone capacity left (Trump’s claim) | 15% |
| Brent crude after remarks | $97.67 a barrel |
| WTI crude after remarks | $90.51 a barrel |
| Reward for Iran nuclear information | Up to $20 million |
| War duration | 8 months |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the US strike Iran again?
Trump says fresh strikes are highly unlikely if talks keep progressing. But he added he would order them “if necessary”, and US forces in the region are ready.
What are the US and Iran negotiating?
A deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar is mediating the talks.
Why did oil prices fall after Trump’s remarks?
Traders saw a lower risk of a wider war near the Strait of Hormuz, so Brent and WTI crude both dropped when markets opened on Monday.
