Washington: US President Donald Trump has ruled out immediate negotiations with Iran, saying Washington has “no interest” in meeting Tehran until Iranian leaders are prepared to participate in what he called meaningful discussions.
Trump made the remarks while meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. He claimed Iranian officials had been attempting to establish contact through back channels because of the damage caused by the continuing US military campaign.
Also Read: US Launches 11th Consecutive Night of Strikes on Iran as Hormuz Crisis Deepens
Trump Sets Conditions for Negotiations
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Iranian officials “desperately” wanted to meet and bring the conflict to an end. However, he maintained that the United States would not enter negotiations unless it believed Tehran was serious about reaching a substantive agreement.
CENTCOM forces began striking military targets in Iran at 7 pm ET today for the 11th consecutive night. The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 21, 2026
His comments indicated that Washington was prioritizing military pressure over an immediate return to diplomacy.
US Completes 11th Night of Strikes
The US military completed its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets, with Central Command saying the operation was intended to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Targets reportedly included drone facilities, aircraft infrastructure, maritime assets and military logistics sites.
Also Read: Iran-US Conflict: Pakistan Tries to Restart Peace Talks
The fighting has intensified around the strategically important waterway, disrupting shipping and increasing concerns about global energy supplies. Iran has also continued retaliatory operations against American interests and regional allies.
Iran War Cost Reaches $37.5 Billion
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the conflict had cost the United States approximately $37.5 billion so far. During Senate testimony, he defended the administration’s request for additional military funding and warned that the Pentagon could face critical shortages without fresh resources.
Trump has also signaled that attacks could intensify further, including possible action against fortified Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
Comments are closed.