Trump shifts again on Iran, rejects deal after hinting war may end
What's next: The mixed signals are set to shadow Trump's trip to Asia, where Iran is expected to come up in talks with Xi and Putin.
President Donald Trump hardened his stance on Iran this week, writing that the United States no longer needs a deal with Tehran just days after suggesting more diplomacy could be possible and new major strikes were unlikely. The reversal has deepened uncertainty over how Washington intends to end the 8-month-old conflict. Trump also redirected Vice President JD Vance, who had taken part in earlier talks, to focus on domestic issues. Even as he cast the war as close to finished, Trump warned the military was “locked and loaded” and watching Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to Iran's nuclear program. The shifting message now hangs over Trump's upcoming Asia trip, including meetings in Shenzhen with China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.