Trump says resumption of war with Iran ‘highly unlikely’

US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism on Sunday about the possibility of renewed conflict with Iran, stating that it was "highly unlikely" as long as diplomatic talks continued. Recent reports have indicated that military hostilities might resume following the US midterm elections held this week. During an interview with CNN, Trump pledged to strike Iran "really hard" if necessary, emphasizing the devastating impact of his military actions.

However, he noted that any decision to resume hostilities would depend on Iran's willingness to sign a "very strong agreement." Trump had previously acknowledged that the unpopular war with Iran was partly to blame for his Republican Party's poor performance in the recent midterm elections. In the interview, he further suggested that economic pressure on Iran would force its leaders to accept a peace deal on the United States' terms, citing "301 percent inflation" in the country.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on state television that peace talks had been on hold due to the "shock" caused by the Democratic Party's significant victory in the US elections. Araghchi said that time needed to be given for the United States to "digest" these results before determining the next steps.

Iran has maintained its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has affected oil supplies coming out of the Gulf and contributed to higher gasoline prices in the United States, further adding to the unpopularity of the conflict.