Trump says US ‘doesn’t need a deal with Iran’, directs Vance to focus on domestic issues
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, November 12, said that Washington no longer needs to negotiate a deal with Iran, dismissing the prospect of a diplomatic agreement despite earlier suggestions that one could be reached after the midterm elections.
Trump also directed Vice President JD Vance to shift his attention away from efforts to resolve the conflict and focus instead on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-led cities and states. The president's remarks came just a day after reports claimed that Vance was considering face-to-face discussions with a senior Iranian security official.
Trump rules out need for Iran deal, directs Vance to focus on 'corruption and crime' in Democrat-run states and cities
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that the US had secured sufficient leverage over Tehran and no longer needed to pursue an agreement. "We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" the 80-year-old wrote, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
I have asked Vice President Vance to focus his complete and total attention on the Massive Corruption and Crime taking place in Democrat run Cities and States throughout the U.S. The Blue States, such as Minnesota, California, Illinois, and many more, are all poorly run, corrupt disasters. Billions of Dollars is being stolen each and every month. Our Budget could be quickly BALANCED with the correction of this large scale criminal activity. CORRUPTION is in the Democrat Leadership’s blood! We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT ( TS: Nov 12 2026, 8:07 AM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) November 12, 2026
The president also said that he had asked Vance to devote his "complete and total attention" to alleged criminal activity and corruption in Democratic-run cities and states across the country. "Our Budget could be quickly balanced with the correction of this large-scale criminal activity. Corruption is in the Democrat Leadership's blood!" Trump wrote.
The directive came after a Wall Street Journal report published Wednesday said Vance was considering a meeting with a senior Iranian security official. As per the report, the vice president had been weighing face-to-face discussions as part of efforts to restart diplomatic engagement.
Vance had previously played a central role in negotiations with Iranian officials, leading US talks in Pakistan in April. Those discussions produced a memorandum of understanding in June intended to pause the conflict, but the arrangement broke down within weeks.
He also reportedly reached out to Tehran last month, writing a letter to seek renewed peace talks with Washington. Trump subsequently said that he had not instructed Vance to make the outreach.
Trump’s latest position marks a shift from earlier hopes for post-election agreement
Trump's latest comments represent a change in tone from his statements before the midterm elections, when he repeatedly suggested that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement and that negotiations could resume after voting concluded.
On the eve of the election, he wrote on Truth Social that Iran wanted a settlement and that an agreement could be reached soon. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, the president had also suggested Tehran was waiting to see the election results before negotiating.
“I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” Trump said. “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election.”
