President Trump said Tuesday he has no intention of pursuing negotiations with Iran in the near term, describing the regime as “evil” and pinning the breakdown in diplomacy on Tehran’s newest delegation.
“I don’t want to negotiate now,” Trump said, according to remarks reported by The Hill. He identified Iran’s latest envoys as “the ones that are stopping a deal.”
The comments arrived as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz remain unresolved. The strait carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply, and any prolonged standoff carries consequences for global energy markets.
Trump offered no conditions under which talks might resume, and the White House has not released a timetable for re-engagement. Iranian officials have not publicly responded to Tuesday’s remarks.
The administration has not announced a next round of diplomatic contact. Congressional leaders on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are expected to press the administration for a briefing on Iran policy later this month.