Trump maintains current strategy on Iran relations, avoids major changes.

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States no longer seeks a deal with Iran, citing billions of Iranian dollars frozen overseas. The statement came from a Truth Social post while he was in Dubai, UAE, nine months into the war that began after the US targeted Iranian forces. Trump said, “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money.” The comment signals a shift from earlier threats of swift strikes.

The change follows stalled talks mediated by Qatar. Trump met Qatar’s prime minister at the White House earlier this week and said Gulf Arab allies prefer to maintain the current economic pressure on Iran. The US remains “locked and loaded,” but an attack now seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a likely ouster after recent elections, and the Republican Party lost its congressional majority in the midterms. Vice President Vance blamed the war for the party’s losses.

Iran continues to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz, demanding permission to pass under new rules. The US escorts tankers along a route near Oman’s coast, easing flow for Arab states but not restoring pre‑war production of gas, fertilizer, and aluminum. The International Monetary Fund reports that Gulf economies are in recession despite higher oil prices.