Trump says Iran is 'negotiating on fumes' for peace deal. Live updates
President Donald Trump repeatedly insisted Iran wants to make a deal to end the war as he convened a Cabinet meeting at the White House to strategize next steps on Iran after hostilities flared up again.
“I think we’re doing very well, I think they’re starting to give us the things that they have to give us, and if they won’t then the man on my left is gonna finish them off,” Trump said, pointing to Hegseth who was seated next to him.
Trump’s move to get in the same room with his closest advisors comes after the U.S. military launched new attacks on Iran on Monday. Accelerated negotiations with Iran in recent days have failed to lead to an agreement to end the war. The Pentagon called the attacks "self-defense strikes." Iran called them a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire and said it "will leave no act of aggression unanswered."
The new U.S. attacks came as Trump said over the weekend that a peace deal to end the war was "largely negotiated." During remarks at the Cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president prefers to make an agreement with Iran, but he has "other options" available to him if the mediated talks collapse.
The ongoing war and closure at the Strait of Hormuz has elevated gas prices for the United States. On Wednesday morning, the national average stood at $4.447.
Iran 'cried uncle' after U.S. naval blockade, Hegseth says
Francesca Chambers
Citing unspecified intelligence, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was hurting Iran's economy so badly, its leaders were forced to engage in peace talks.
Hegseth said at a Cabinet meeting that the U.S. was "choking off" Iran's economy anad that Iran came and "cried uncle to talk" to U.S. officials in charge of negotiating a deal.
"So whether it is through the efforts of your negotiators, that they ensure that they never have a nuclear weapon, or we have to go back to the War Department to finish the job that way, we are prepared to do that," Hegseth told Trump.
Trump says no country will control Strait of Hormuz, threatens to 'blow up' Oman if it doesn't 'behave'
Joey Garrison
Trump ruled out handing control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran and Oman as part of a potential concession to Tehran as his administration tries to strike a deal that ends the war.
The president also threatened to "blow up" the Gulf state of Oman if its leaders attempt to control the strait.
"We'll watch over it. But nobody's going to control it," Trump said of the waterway. "That's part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody's going to control it. It's international waters. Oman will have to behave just like everyone else or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine."
The Strait of Hormuz, which has faced competing blockades from the U.S. and Iran is a critical waterway for the transport of goods, particularly oil. The New York Times reported Iran has discussed partnering with Oman to create a system that would charge fees on vessels traveling through the strait, ignoring Trump's demands that the waterway not be subject to fees.
"The strait's going to be open to everybody," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting when asked by a reporter whether he would accept such a deal. "It's international waters. We're going to watch over, but nobody's going to control."
Rubio says Trump has 'other options' if talks collapse
Francesca Chambers
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a Cabinet meeting that Trump prefers to make an agreement with Iran, but he has "other options" available to him if the mediated talks collapse.
"If there's an agreement to be made, we want that to be made. I think there's been some progress and some interest, and we'll see over the next few hours and days whether progress could be made," Rubio said.
But he added, turning to Trump: "You know this well, you have other options available to you, if that doesn't work."
Trump says Iran is 'negotiating on fumes'
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump again insisted Iran wants to make a deal to end the war even as accelerated negotiations in recent days have failed to lead to an agreement.
"Iran is very much intent," Trump said at a Cabinet meeting. "They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven't gotten there. We're not satisfied with it, but we will be. Either that or we'll have to just finish the job."
Trump referenced U.S. military successes earlier in the war that he said wiped out Iran's navy and air force.
"Everything's gone, and they’re negotiating on fumes," Trump said. "But we'll see what happens. Maybe we'll have to go back and finish it. maybe we don't."
'I don't care about the midterms.' Trump not worried Iran will hurt GOP midterm chances
Joey Garrison
President Donald Trump said he isn't worried about the 2026 midterm elections as higher gas prices due to the war in Iran threaten to hurt Republican chances in November.
Trump, speaking at a Wednesday Cabinet meeting, said the Iranian regime "thought they were going to outwait me" in regard to making a peace deal.
"'We'll outwait him. He's got the midterms,'” Trump said. "I don't care about the midterms. Look what happened last night. That was the prelude to the midterms."
Trump was referencing victories of Trump-backed Republican primary candidates across the country; most notably, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
"Last night was incredible, not only Texas, but so many other places. The numbers were fantastic," Trump said, kicking off his 12th Cabinet meeting of his second term. "Last night was very, very powerful."
Iran says draft deal with US would reopen Hormuz shipping, end naval blockade
Reuters
Iran's state TV said Tehran had obtained a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding with the United States on ending their conflict.
Under the framework, Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, while the United States would withdraw military forces from Iran's vicinity and lift a naval blockade.
State TV said the framework, which excludes military vessels and envisages Iran managing ship traffic through the strait in cooperation with Oman, was not yet finalised and that Tehran would take no steps without "tangible verification".
It added that if a final agreement was reached within 60 days, it could be approved as a binding U.N. Security Council resolution.
The United States previously said the proposed framework would get the Strait demined and reopened for business without providing further details.
‘A year or more for prices to recover.’ No relief on gas soon, analyst says
Andrea Riquier
Gas will average $4.80 a gallon from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with significant volatility over the coming months, according to a May 20 forecast from GasBuddy. What’s more, consumers should prepare for prices to be higher for longer, the group’s head of petroleum analysis said.
"Americans are going to pay billions more to get where they're going this summer, and even after the Strait reopens, it could take a year or more for prices to fully recover,” Patrick De Haan said.
That national average for regular unleaded gas would be $1.48 more expensive on this Memorial Day compared to last year, driven primarily by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the forecast notes. But plenty of other factors will play into the forecast for the rest of the summer, including the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season and questions about OPEC production.
Meanwhile, the war in Iran, which touched off the higher prices, isn’t settled.
“If the Strait remains closed for much of the summer, prices could hit $5 per gallon or higher and potentially set new all-time records,” De Haan wrote in the forecast. “Sub-$3 gas is unlikely to return for many months — possibly more than a year.”
On Wednesday morning, the national average stood at $4.447.
Israel expands operation in Lebanon
Christopher Cann
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his country is "deepening" its military operation in Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire.
"The [Israeli military] is operating with large forces on the ground and seizing dominant terrain," Netanyahu said in a video address.
Netanyahu’s comments come as Israel pounded Lebanon and Hezbollah, Iran’s ally in the country, launched attacks on Israeli troops. Israeli military officials said they struck about 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites overnight Tuesday. Meanwhile, they said they plan to hold territory in southern Lebanon until they have eliminated threats to northern Israel, which had repeatedly come under Hezbollah rocket fire.
Hezbollah said they were targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. According to the Israeli military, at least 11 of the country’s troops have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah.
The back-and-forth comes weeks after a ceasefire was declared between Israel and Lebanon. Since the start of the Iran war, more than 3,200 people, including combatants, have been killed in Lebanon, according to the country's health ministry.