Trump Orders US Team to Halt Iran Contacts
Washington shifts from quick negotiations to long-term economic and political pressure on Tehran
By Sadiq Abdulfatah
US President Donald Trump has ordered members of his administration to stop contacts with Iran as Washington shifts towards a longer-term strategy of economic and political pressure on Tehran.
US officials said the administration has informed its political allies about the change, with Trump no longer expecting to secure quick concessions from Iran. The new approach comes after earlier contacts that officials described as positive.
Trump reportedly instructed his negotiating team, including Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, not to engage with Tehran. The decision followed growing frustration over Iran’s refusal to accept the conditions being demanded by Washington.
The move marks a change from Trump’s earlier comments, when he repeatedly suggested that progress was being made and that a new agreement with Iran could be reached. He has now said that there are no talks or negotiations with Tehran underway or scheduled.
“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on social media, while also saying the US naval blockade remained in place and that the Strait of Hormuz was operating.
The decision came shortly after Kushner gave a more positive assessment of the contacts. During a visit to the Middle East, he said discussions with Iran were “probably more robust” than ever and that the US team was speaking with different figures within the Iranian government.
Iranian officials, however, have repeatedly denied that they are holding direct talks with the United States.
Another major point of disagreement is the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for international oil shipments. The United States and Iran remain at odds over how traffic through the strait should be managed, while Oman has been involved in efforts to find a way to restore shipping.
US officials are also preparing new sanctions against Iran as Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on the country. American military officials have said US forces in the region are prepared to maintain the blockade of Iranian ports.
The situation has also placed pressure on the US military, with American forces maintaining a large presence in the region. The prolonged deployment of military assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, has raised concerns over the strain on ships and personnel.
Despite calls from some Republicans for a way out of the conflict, Trump has so far resisted pressure to withdraw, maintaining that he is not facing an immediate deadline to end the war.
Meanwhile, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted. According to data cited from Kpler, more than 80 per cent of vessel transits over the past two weeks have used the Omani route, while Iran has opposed the route and attacked some vessels attempting to pass through the waterway.
The latest development points to a tougher US approach towards Iran, with Washington appearing to favour sustained economic and political pressure rather than immediate negotiations.
Source: Saudi Gazette
SPONSORED
SPONSORED
