Trump says US doesn’t need deal with Iran, claims control of Hormuz

According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump instructed Vice President JD Vance to redirect his focus from the ongoing Iran conflict to addressing corruption and crime within Democratic-controlled cities and states. Vance, who served as a lead negotiator in a short-lived truce during the eight-month war, has been critical of the conflict and its economic consequences for Republicans' electoral losses in recent midterm elections.

Trump, in a social media post, emphasized that the U.S. has "their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!" and stated that "those days have long since passed" regarding negotiations with Iran. This directive comes in response to reports of Democrats' plans to intensify oversight of Trump's business dealings and other targets if they gain control of Congress in January.

Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance was considering engaging in direct talks with a senior Iranian official. Vance had previously blamed Trump's Iran war for the Republican's mid-term defeats, stating that "losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it" if the consequences were worth it. Vance is also contemplating a potential 2028 presidential run.