President Donald Trump said new talks to wind down the war in Iran will start Monday, after announcing he is holding off on the large new strikes he had threatened against the country. The statement came after days of escalating threats and airstrikes that have drawn growing criticism at home and abroad.
Trump reverses course on strikes
Trump told reporters he had decided to pause military action to give diplomacy a chance. He called Tehran "unbelievably duplicitous" but said negotiations were worth trying. The announcement marked a sharp turn from earlier messages in which he promised massive retaliation for Iranian attacks. Markets reacted quickly, and oil prices fell after the news broke. The president also claimed credit for opening a channel through regional mediators, though he gave few details about who would sit at the table.
Officials push back on talk of talks
US officials quickly pushed back on the idea that formal negotiations were planned. Several said no new Iran talks were on the schedule despite the president's comments. The mixed messaging left lawmakers and allies confused about the administration's actual strategy. Congress has received little detail about the war's direction, and some members say the White House is sharing less than it should. The Pentagon recently created a new casualty category tied to the end of its operation in the region, a move that drew questions from both parties.
War-weary public sends approval to a new low
The confusion comes as Trump's approval rating hit a new low. Barely a third of Americans approve of his handling of the job, a historic depth for a second-term president at this stage. Polls show war fatigue and rising costs are the main drivers. Analysts say the president faces pressure to show progress on Iran before the midterm elections, which are now less than 100 days away. His aides insist the pause is a negotiating tactic, not a retreat, but critics say the on-again, off-again approach is making the United States look unpredictable on the world stage.