Donald Trump has accused Iran of deliberately stalling peace negotiations, suggesting the country is waiting for the US midterm elections in November to secure a better deal. Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, the president claimed Iran's strategy is to outlast him politically.
Trump's Remarks on Iran and Midterms
During the meeting, Trump stated, "They thought they were going to outwait me, you know, 'we'll out-wait him, he's got the midterms.'" He dismissed the notion that the midterms would affect his stance, referencing the recent primary victory of Ken Paxton, whom he endorsed, over Senator John Cornyn in Texas. Trump asserted that Iran's economy is in crisis, with 250% inflation and a devalued currency, making a deal imperative for Tehran.
Trump's comments come as talks to end the nearly three-month conflict are at a critical juncture. He claimed current attempts have failed because "we're not satisfied with it." The president also threatened Oman, though details were not specified.
Other Key Developments
In Texas, Republican leaders rallied behind Ken Paxton after his primary win, despite concerns about his general election prospects. Trump attacked Paxton's Democratic opponent on Truth Social.
Protests erupted at a New Jersey ICE detention center where detainees are on a hunger strike. Federal officers used chemicals and charged demonstrators, escalating tensions after Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed earlier.
Trump criticized state efforts to regulate prediction markets, urging federal control. The administration also threatened to stop processing international flights in sanctuary cities in response to immigration protests.
A company led by Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser pardoned by Trump, won a $106 million federal contract. Meanwhile, US importers may receive $85 billion in tariff refunds after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariffs.
Jill Biden revealed she feared Joe Biden had a stroke during a 2024 debate. Joe Biden filed a lawsuit to prevent the release of interview transcripts that exposed his memory lapses. Three Democratic attorneys general were turned away from a JD Vance roundtable on fraud. The administration is building an Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for affected Americans.
