Trump dismisses stalled Iran peace talks as unimportant
President Donald Trump told reporters that he was not concerned about the collapse of Iran negotiations, describing the talks as uninteresting and saying oil prices did not worry him. CNBC reported that the United States and Iran were close to finalizing a 60-day cease-fire extension and a framework for nuclear discussions aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. NPR echoed the near-agreement, noting that talks addressed the Strait and Iran’s nuclear program. The New York Times later quoted Trump as announcing that a peace agreement to end hostilities and reopen the strait was nearing completion. U. S. officials said Iran agreed to surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpile as part of the negotiations. AP News and CBS News indicated that the deal remained near finalization while Republican lawmakers voiced criticism of the concessions.
The Guardian noted that despite U. S. airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, Iranian negotiators continued talks in Qatar, focusing on frozen assets. Iran International reported that Tehran demanded guaranteed access to $12 billion of frozen funds before any preliminary agreement. Vox and the AP described Trump expanding his demands and meeting his cabinet as challenges grew, with the president asserting he was not losing the conflict. The Washington Post said Trump convened a Situation Room meeting to decide on extending the cease-fire, while the Guardian reported his struggle to secure a deal amid ongoing fighting. Later, CNBC reported that Iran announced it would halt negotiations and intended to close the Strait of Hormuz following cease-fire violations. In a subsequent interview, Trump downplayed the importance of the stalled talks, saying he was uninterested and not alarmed by potential oil price impacts.
