Breaking
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran is losing its standoff with the United States and will eventually capitulate, even as he acknowledged he could not say exactly when. “They’re doing very poorly. I don’t know if they’re going to give up yet, but they will give up,” Trump said. He also touted the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz under American protection: “We took more oil out of the Hormuz Strait over the last couple of days than at any point in history.”
Trump’s comments came as Iran’s currency, the rial, crashed past 2.5 million to the U.S. dollar, a new record low. The collapse reflects the growing toll of the administration’s naval blockade of Iranian ports and its sanctions campaign, known as Operation Economic Outcast. A day earlier, Trump said in the Oval Office that he expects the conflict to end “very soon,” one way or the other.
Details & Background
The United States and Israel first struck Iran on February 28, 2026. Since then, the administration has combined military pressure with a blockade of Iranian oil and sweeping sanctions targeting Iran’s shipping, aviation, gold, technology and digital-asset sectors. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said over the weekend that Iran’s last oil shipments to China will be delivered within roughly two weeks, after which Tehran will have “nothing left to trade for anything.” Non-Iranian oil, meanwhile, has continued to move out of the Persian Gulf at roughly pre-war volumes.
Diplomacy is still in motion. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is waiting for a formal U.S. response to a proposal sent through Qatar focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while denying any softening of Iran’s nuclear positions. Trump rejected an earlier Iranian offer to reopen the strait within seven days in exchange for lifting the blockade. Trump has been clear on the core issue: “They are crazy. There’s no question about it. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
Reactions
Senior administration officials echoed the president’s message. Vice President JD Vance signaled openness to an agreement “provided Iran demonstrates through conduct” that it will honor its commitments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that a nuclear-armed Iran could dominate energy supplies and “charge a toll” on global commerce. Iranian officials, for their part, have warned of retaliation against regional energy trade if the pressure continues. Talks through mediators, including Qatar, are continuing as both sides weigh their next moves.
Critics in Congress have grown louder as the war drags on. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called the war “a disaster on every front,” and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said Trump is “stuck” without an exit strategy. Some Republicans have also voiced impatience. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said she would tell Trump to “end the war now,” and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) urged fellow Republicans to oppose the Iran war.
Why This Matters to You
The standoff with Iran has a direct effect on American families. Energy prices, shipping costs and the safety of U.S. service members in the region all depend on how and when this conflict ends. The administration argues that squeezing Iran’s economy is the fastest way to force a deal without a wider war, and the record collapse of the rial suggests that pressure is taking a heavy toll on the regime.
The stakes go well beyond the Middle East. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon has been a goal of American presidents of both parties for decades, and a regime that sponsors terrorist groups across the region would be far more dangerous with one. If Trump’s prediction proves right and Tehran gives up on American terms, it could mark one of the most consequential national security victories in a generation. If not, the pressure and the risks will only grow.
