Trump dismisses Iran's Strait of Hormuz threats, says 'I don't care'

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – US President Donald Trump has shown increasing impatience with negotiations with Iran. Amid uncertainty over the fate of peace talks and Tehran’s threat to fully close the Strait of Hormuz, Trump openly stated he does not care if the talks end without an agreement.

The remarks came as tensions in the Middle East escalated following Israel’s military operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group. This has prompted reports that Iran is considering halting talks with Washington and tightening its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route that is a vital artery for global energy trade.

In a telephone interview with CNBC on Monday (1/6/2026) local time, Trump downplayed the possibility of the diplomatic process collapsing, which has been the focus of efforts to halt the war for weeks.

‘I don’t care if the talks end, honestly,’ Trump said.

The US president reiterated his stance more forcefully: ‘I really don’t care. I absolutely don’t care,’ he told CNBC.

Trump said the prolonged talks were losing their appeal for him, describing the extended discussions with Iran as ‘starting to get very boring’.

Iran Reportedly Halts Talks

Trump’s comments came after reports on Monday that Iranian negotiators would halt talks with the US.

The move is said to be a response to Israel’s expanding military operations in Lebanon, particularly against Hezbollah, Tehran’s key regional ally.

The reports also stated that Iran plans to ‘fully close’ the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked if Iran had directly informed him of the decision, Trump replied briefly.

‘No, they haven’t,’ he said.

Trump also said he would seek clarification directly from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding developments in Lebanon.

‘I will ask’ Netanyahu ‘what is happening in Lebanon,’ Trump said.

Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Hours after the interview, Trump posted a statement on Truth Social indicating positive developments in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Trump said he had a highly productive conversation with Netanyahu: ‘I had a very productive conversation,’ he wrote.

He claimed there would be no troop deployment to Beirut.

‘There will be no troops heading to Beirut, and any troops en route have been ordered to return,’ he wrote.

In the same post, Trump also stated he had communicated with Hezbollah through key intermediaries, claiming the group agreed to halt attacks on Israel.

‘They agreed to stop all shooting. Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,’ Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, in a separate post, Trump remained optimistic about diplomatic channels with Iran: ‘Talks are continuing, very quickly, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ he wrote.

Beirut Threat

However, Trump’s statements did not fully align with the Israeli government’s stance.

In a post on X on Monday night, Netanyahu stated he had told Trump directly that Israel would escalate military operations if Hezbollah attacks continued.

‘If Hezbollah does not stop attacks on our cities and citizens, Israel will strike terror targets in Beirut,’ Netanyahu wrote.

He added that Israel’s position remains unchanged: ‘Our position is unchanged. At the same time, the Israel Defence Forces will continue operations as planned in southern Lebanon,’ he said.

Trump Unfazed by Oil Price Rise

Asked about the oil price surge due to Iran’s threat to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump appeared relatively relaxed.

Oil prices had previously spiked after Iranian news agency Tasnim reported Tehran had halted negotiations and tightened surveillance at the strait. However, Trump believed energy price pressures would be temporary.

‘I think oil prices will plummet very soon, very soon,’ he said.

Trump also believed Americans would understand if war caused temporary fuel price increases, claiming the public would accept the economic consequences once they understood the conflict’s primary goal was preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

‘Once you explain this is about Iran having nuclear weapons, people are willing to pay a bit more,’ he said.

He then reiterated his belief that fuel prices would soon drop.

Talks’ Fate

Despite his administration stating talks with Iran are ongoing, Trump simultaneously showed little urgency to revive the stalled negotiations.

He said the talks ending would not be a major issue, reiterating criticism that the diplomatic process was moving too slowly.

‘Honestly, I think the talks are starting to get very boring,’ he said.

Asked if it was time to formally end the US-Iran ceasefire, which is nominally still in place, Trump declined to give a clear answer.

‘Assume I know exactly what you’re asking… and I do know a bit. Why should I tell you?’ he said.

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