President Trump told Axios on Monday he is 'in no rush' to decide whether to resume fighting in Iran, as Qatari mediators work on a draft agreement aimed at restarting direct U.S.-Iran negotiations.
The US midterm elections have been seen as an inflection point for Trump on whether to unleash a massive bombing campaign. Trump is giving diplomacy a chance but is clear-eyed about the chances of reaching a deal.
"One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush. We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it," Trump said in a phone interview.
According to regional sources, Qatari mediators have written a draft agreement outlining a three-day sequence of confidence-building measures aimed at resuming direct U.S.-Iran negotiations. A diplomat with knowledge of the situation said the mediators are waiting for feedback from the U.S. and Iran. Qatari mediator Ali al-Thawadi traveled to Tehran on Monday to continue talks, and the diplomat said progress is building.
Trump is weighing three courses of action backed by different camps. Vice President JD Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff are urging a deal, arguing a renewed war might not improve the situation. Most Gulf countries support this position. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth want to resume combat, arguing Iran cannot be trusted to make or abide by a deal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio advise maintaining the "no war, no deal" status quo and allowing the economic pressure campaign to continue. The CIA declined to comment.
On the Iranian side, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei "granted the government certain authorities" to try to reach a deal. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said diplomatic exchanges "have become very intensive."
"Qatar and Pakistan are playing very active roles as mediators. We have presented our conditions and our proposal, and everything depends on Washington's political rationality. If they choose genuine diplomacy, we are ready to engage. But if they intend to engage in deception and military operations, they will face a response more painful and severe than in the past," Araghchi said. He added that if the US accepts Tehran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, negotiations will resume; otherwise the current situation will continue.
Russia and China are also involved. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Monday with Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Gen. Mohsen Rezaei about the diplomatic effort. Rezaei's deputy visited Beijing on Monday and met with the Chinese foreign minister. China is also urging the U.S. and Iran to resume direct negotiations.
Vance told reporters Monday that he and Trump "feel pretty good about the prospect of reaching a settlement" with Iran. "We made some progress and we will see if we can make some more," Vance said. "We haven't set deadlines (for resuming strikes). We want to make sure the Iranians don't rebuild or try to rebuild their nuclear program. We do think there is a pathway there but it requires a firm and verifiable commitment that they don't rebuild their nuclear program."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The outcome of the US-Iran conflict affects global energy markets, given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Trump's decision on whether to resume bombing could escalate or de-escalate one of the region's most significant wars.
- The active roles of Russia and China add a geopolitical dimension beyond the bilateral dispute.
Background
The US and Iran have been at war, with the United States conducting airstrikes and Iran retaliating, including by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Trump paused major strikes to pursue negotiations, with the midterm elections seen as a potential deadline for deciding whether to resume a large-scale bombing campaign. Qatari mediators are working on a draft agreement to restart direct talks.
Key Perspectives
- President Trump: "One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush."
- VP JD Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff: Urge moving toward a deal, arguing renewed war might not change the situation for the better.
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Argue Iran cannot be trusted and Trump should finish the job militarily.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Advise maintaining the "no war, no deal" status quo and allowing economic pressure to force Iranian concessions.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: Hopeful about a deal; says Supreme Leader granted authorities to negotiate.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: Diplomatic exchanges "have become very intensive"; if US accepts conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, negotiations will resume; otherwise Iran will not bow down.
- Russia and China: Taking active roles; Putin spoke with Iran's Gen. Rezaei; China urging resumption of direct negotiations.
What to Watch
- Feedback from the US and Iran on the Qatari draft agreement.
- Whether Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz are met.
- The outcome of the US midterm elections and its impact on Trump's decision timeline.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump said he is “in no rush” to decide whether to resume fighting in Iran.Axios: “President Trump told Axios in a phone interview Monday he's "in no rush" to decide whether to resume fighting in Iran.”
- SupportedTrump is weighing three courses of action, while Qatari mediators are drafting a confidence-building agreement.Axios: “Qatari mediators have written a draft agreement outlining a three-day sequence of confidence-building measures aimed at resuming direct U.S.-Iran negotiations”
- SupportedTrump told Axios: “One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush. We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it.”Axios: “"One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush. We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it," Trump said in the interview.”
- SupportedThe US midterm elections have been seen as an inflection point for Trump on whether to unleash a massive bombing campaign.Axios: “The midterm elections have been seen as an inflection point for Trump on whether to unleash a massive bombing campaign to try to bring the war to an end.”
- SupportedRegional sources say Qatari mediators drafted a three-day sequence of confidence-building measures aimed at restarting direct US-Iran negotiations.Axios: “Qatari mediators have written a draft agreement outlining a three-day sequence of confidence-building measures aimed at resuming direct U.S.-Iran negotiations, according to regional sources.”
- SupportedA diplomat said Qatari mediators are waiting for feedback from the US and Iran.Axios: “A diplomat with knowledge of the situation said the Qatari mediators are waiting for feedback from the U.S. and Iran.”
- SupportedAli al-Thawadi traveled to Tehran on Monday to continue talks on the draft agreement.Axios: “Qatari mediator Ali al-Thawadi traveled to Tehran on Monday to continue talks on the draft agreement”
- SupportedVance and Witkoff are urging a deal, arguing renewed war might not improve the situation.Axios: “Vice President JD Vance and White House envoy Steve Witkoff are urging him to move toward a deal because a renewed war might not change the situation for the better.”
- SupportedPezeshkian said Mojtaba Khamenei “granted the government certain authorities” to try to reach an agreement through diplomacy.Axios: “Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei "granted the government certain authorities" to try to reach an agreement through diplomacy.”
- SupportedAraghchi said diplomatic exchanges “have become very intensive.”Axios: “Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that the diplomatic exchanges "have become very intensive."”
- SupportedPutin spoke by phone Monday with Mohsen Rezaei about the diplomatic effort.Axios: “Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Monday with Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Gen. Mohsen Rezaei. The two discussed the efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement.”
- SupportedVance said he and Trump “feel pretty good about the prospect of reaching a settlement” with Iran.Axios: “Vance told reporters on Monday that he and Trump "feel pretty good about the prospect of reaching a settlement" with Iran.”