Trump Dismisses Iran Talks Collapse as Hormuz Threat Rattles Oil Markets
President Donald Trump told CNBC Monday that he had no concern over a potential breakdown in US-Iran peace negotiations, as Tehran threatened to seal off a critical global oil chokepoint.
CNBC reported Monday that Trump, speaking by phone with correspondent Eamon Javers, declared he “couldn’t care less” whether the Iran talks collapse. The president added that the negotiations had grown tedious and prolonged.
Iran Talks Collapse Risk Grows Amid Lebanon Escalation
The remarks came after Iranian state media indicated Tehran was prepared to halt discussions with Washington entirely. Iran cited ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah as the reason for suspending engagement.
Iran also threatened to completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply transits daily. The announcement triggered an immediate spike in crude prices on Monday.
Trump, however, played down any concern over fuel costs. He suggested Americans would accept paying more at the pump once they understood the stakes around Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He also predicted oil prices would fall sharply in the near term.
Background: Months of Fragile Diplomacy Now at Risk
The US and Iran had been engaged in indirect talks for several months aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear program. The negotiations were always fragile, with repeated threats of breakdown from both sides.
Israel’s continued pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon has consistently complicated the diplomatic track. Iran views Hezbollah as a key regional ally, and Israeli strikes have strained Tehran’s willingness to remain at the table.
Also Read: What Is the Strait of Hormuz and Why Does It Matter?
Trump and Netanyahu Speak as Lebanon Tensions Escalate
Despite his dismissive tone on Iran, Trump said he intended to ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Lebanon. The president later posted on Truth Social that the two leaders had spoken and that no US troops would be deployed to Beirut.
Trump separately claimed his administration had communicated directly with Hezbollah through intermediaries. He said both sides had agreed to halt hostilities for now.
Netanyahu, posting on X, maintained Israel’s right to strike Beirut if attacks on Israeli civilians continued. He said IDF operations in southern Lebanon would proceed regardless.
On NATO, Trump said European allies rely on Hormuz oil far more than the US does. He suggested they should contribute to any effort to reopen the strait, but added he had not yet asked them and was unsure he wanted their involvement.
Also Read: Iran Nuclear Talks Timeline and Key Developments
Read Next: Oil Markets Brace for Geopolitical Shock as Hormuz Threat Mounts
