'I will determine': Trump says Iran wants a deal as he weighs his next move

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Monday, September 14, on Truth Social that Iran wants a deal “quickly and badly,” but left open whether the United States will actually engage with Tehran.

Trump said he would decide whether the US engages, without specifying what would shape that decision or what conditions Iran would face.

The Monday Truth Social post followed Trump’s remarks on Sunday in Doonbeg, Ireland, where he discussed ending the conflict and potentially staying for Iran’s oil.

Trump leaves Iran deal decision open

“The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage - The concept of which we are open to.”

Trump did not specify what he would require before deciding whether to engage or whether talks with Iran were underway. 

He also gave no timeline for that decision.

The post came after Trump told reporters in Ireland that the conflict with Iran will “end after the midterm” elections. 

He said the Iranian regime “wants to make a deal so badly, and is calling constantly.”

A day earlier, Trump had floated another possibility for the conflict’s outcome. 

“We’ll ultimately get out unless we decide to stay and keep the oil, like Venezuela,” he said.

Trump had previously said oil prices driven higher by the Iran war would “drop precipitously” after the conflict ends. 

He also told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday last week that the conflict could end after the midterm elections.

Venezuela deal offers the comparison Trump cited

Trump’s reference to Venezuela followed a US agreement under which the United States would purchase 20% of the oil from North American Blue Energy Partners, Venezuela’s second-largest private oil producer, at the cost of production, according to The Hill.

“This 25-year bilateral project envisages the development of 17 strategic oilfields with a production target of more than 1.5 million barrels per day,” Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez said on state outlet VTV in August.

Trump has also previously discussed controlling Iran’s oil supply.

In March, he told the Financial Times that taking the oil was his “favorite thing.” 

Energy disruption adds pressure around Iran conflict

The June 17 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran expired August 17 amid faltering talks between the two sides.

The conflict has also disrupted energy markets. Iran’s shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz greatly increased gas prices, with the average US price reaching $4.31 per gallon Sunday, more than $1.10 higher than last year’s average, according to AAA.

Separately, Trump said Iran was “probably” behind a drone attack launched from Iraq that shut a vital oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials said the East-West Pipeline was attacked on Thursday, causing injuries and some damage, and that it was shut down as a precaution.

“I think they are, probably they are,” Trump told reporters in Dublin when asked whether Iran was behind the attack. 

The White House said the United States remained focused on “protecting our core national security interests — such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges.”