Trump tells Al Jazeera 'not in a hurry' for Iran to return to talks
News Source
β’Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:16:29 +0000
π° What Happened
President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera he has no time schedule for Iran to come back to the negotiating table and end the conflict the US began months ago. Asked how much time he would give Iran, Trump said he is not in a hurry and has no time schedule at all. He also claimed the US is winning, that Iran faces massive inflation and a failing economy, and that economic measures are just as effective as military strikes.
π The Backstory
There is a solid turnaround from Trump's early framing of the roughly six-month-old conflict. When the war began in late February he often played down its length, saying at one point it would be over in four to six weeks. In June the US and Iran signed a memorandum meant to settle issues such as transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington continues to add sanctions and military pressure instead of setting a date for talks, fuelling fears the standoff will grind on.
π― Why It Matters
By ruling out any deadline, Washington is signaling an open-ended standoff that keeps the region volatile and prolongs suffering in Iran. It sets expectations that both the war and the diplomacy around it could simply continue for many more months.
President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera he has no time schedule for Iran to come back to the negotiating table and end the conflict the US began months ago. Asked how much time he would give Iran, Trump said he is not in a hurry and has no time schedule at all. He also claimed the US is winning, that Iran faces massive inflation and a failing economy, and that economic measures are just as effective as military strikes.
There is a solid turnaround from Trump's early framing of the roughly six-month-old conflict. When the war began in late February he often played down its length, saying at one point it would be over in four to six weeks. In June the US and Iran signed a memorandum meant to settle issues such as transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington continues to add sanctions and military pressure instead of setting a date for talks, fuelling fears the standoff will grind on.
By ruling out any deadline, Washington is signaling an open-ended standoff that keeps the region volatile and prolongs suffering in Iran. It sets expectations that both the war and the diplomacy around it could simply continue for many more months.