Trump Says Iran Not Ready to Make a Proper Deal

United States President Donald Trump has said that Tehran is not yet ready to make a ‘proper deal’. He also said that Washington is monitoring ‘what is happening’ in the war with Iran.

‘This means we are looking at what is happening,’ Trump told reporters when asked whether US military options against Iran were limited.

Washington this week pledged to impose the toughest financial sanctions in history with the aim of toppling Iran’s leadership.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would provide details on Monday regarding the sanctions plan. This was conveyed after Trump warned of economic consequences for any country providing ‘any assistance channel to Iran.’

‘We have full control over the entire area relating to the Strait of Hormuz, and that also means the land area. So, they want to make a deal, but in my opinion, they are not yet ready to make a proper deal,’ Trump said on Friday (21/8) local time, as reported by Reuters on Saturday (22/8/2026).

Before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, the Strait of Hormuz handled around one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies.

Previously, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that it was time to end the Middle East war with the United States because Tehran was now in a stronger position than Washington.

Negotiations between the two arch-enemies remain stalled and deadlocked. Tehran continues to partially close the Strait of Hormuz and Washington continues to carry out retaliatory naval blockades against Iran.

‘It is better for us to end this war now because we are in a strong and dignified position,’ Pezeshkian said in a meeting with doctors in Iran, as reported by AFP news agency on Saturday (22/8/2026).

‘The whole world recognises our victory and emphasises that America has attacked our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated throughout the world,’ he added.