President Trump said Tuesday that negotiations with Iran continue and that officials within the regime want to make a deal to stop the bombardment.
Mr. Trump said Iran is starting to “talk sense” and showing greater commitment toward relinquishing hopes of obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“They’ve agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office. “They’ve agreed to that.”
Mr. Trump said special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance are involved in talks that could end hostilities in Iran.
Mr. Trump joined forces with Israel in launching the war on Feb. 28, saying he needed to destroy Iran’s missile program, its pursuit of a nuclear weapon and its support of terror proxies in the Middle East.
“We’re in negotiations right now,” Mr. Trump said. “They’d like to make a deal. And who wouldn’t, if you were them?”
Mr. Trump pointed to Iran’s degraded military, including its navy and missile capabilities.
“We are roaming free over Tehran,” he said. “We can do whatever we want.”
At one point, Mr. Trump said the conflict is basically over.
“This war has been won,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s not a close battle. They’re totally defeated.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the obliteration of Iran’s military was “one for the history books, truly.”
“We negotiate with bombs,” Mr. Hegseth said. “You have a choice, as we loiter over top of Tehran … about your future.”
It is unclear who is talking to the U.S. from the Iranian side, though a report in The Wall Street Journal said Arab allies are facilitating talks.
Pakistan also put itself forth as a possible intermediary between the U.S. and Iran.
Some Trump critics say the president announced negotiations on Monday to stem the economic fallout from the Iran war.
U.S. stocks rebounded to start the trading week after Mr. Trump signaled a possible end to the war, though major indexes gave up some of their gains Tuesday as both sides continued to volley missiles.
Iran hit targets in Israel and Iraq even as U.S. officials said Tehran’s missile program was seriously hindered.
Oil prices rose again, with Brent crude settling above $100 per barrel, and the average national price of a gallon of gas hit $3.98.
Democrats accused Mr. Trump of dithering while everyday Americans feel the pain.
“As American families continue to struggle with rising prices and his war with Iran escalates, Donald Trump has been spending his weekends on the golf course and dedicating his time to his White House ballroom renovations,” DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer said. “Working families are barely making ends meet as prices soar and jobs disappear — and Trump is doubling down. Americans are begging for relief — and Trump can’t be bothered.”
Mr. Trump and his top lieutenants said some short-term pain from high oil and gas prices had been expected. But they believe it will be worth the long-term gain from peace in the Middle East.
Prices are “gonna come down more than anyone understands” once the war is over, the president said this month.
