Trump Administration Remains Confident Amid Economic Pressure on Iran

NEW YORK — Officials in the Trump administration believe Iran is making a mistake if it thinks that rising prices and the upcoming midterm elections will undermine President Donald Trump’s negotiating power regarding the ongoing conflict.

The administration is expressing confidence that increasing economic pressure will lead Tehran to negotiate, even though recent talks, lasting three hours, concluded without any significant progress being announced.

“The president holds all of the cards here,” remarked Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson, during an interview at the U.N. General Assembly.

Meanwhile, American consumers are feeling the pinch. As of Friday, the national average for regular gasoline hit $4.49 per gallon, a sharp rise from $3.16 a year ago. According to AAA, the rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and soaring crude oil prices have caused the national average to reach its highest level for this time of year.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed out these economic challenges, but emphasized that allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons would bring a far heavier cost.

“It comes at a price and at a cost, there’s no doubt about it,” Rubio stated, acknowledging rising gas prices. “But the cost of not doing something about it is substantially higher, especially for future generations.”

During his address at the U.N. General Assembly, Trump outlined the stakes, urging Tehran to choose between a deal that would allow for rebuilding or facing severe U.S. consequences. He posed a stark question: “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”

Trump believes that Iran will eventually opt for a deal, suggesting that Iranian leaders are waiting to gauge the outcome of the midterm elections to see if they can exploit any perceived weaknesses. “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” Trump said, adding, “What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.”

He further stressed, “I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn’t even enter my mind.”

A U.S. official mentioned that discussions through mediators have remained “positive and constructive,” although the administration is not in a rush to finalize an agreement.

“The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a hurry,” the official noted, adding that the flow of oil through the strait has been significant over the past two days. The official expected oil prices to decrease as the U.S. continues its oversight of the region.

Trump indicated that a “very good” meeting with Iranian officials occurred as part of efforts to resolve the conflict. However, Rubio cautioned against viewing the discussions as a “major breakthrough,” stating they were merely a continuation of prior conversations. “I think it was significant that at least there was a conversation,” he admitted.

Furthermore, Iran has put forward its own proposal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi introduced a seven-day plan to U.S. mediators this week, suggesting that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz would be restored after the seven days, contingent upon certain conditions, followed by renewed talks for a broader agreement.

This proposal aligns with a prior understanding reached between Trump and Iran in June. A mediator informed CBS News that while recent discussions were positive, they remain in somewhat preliminary stages.

The stakes in the Strait of Hormuz are notably high, given the disruption of commercial traffic during the conflict. Despite this, U.S. officials have noted that oil transportation through the strait is on the rise.

“The diplomatic door is always open. The president is a deal-maker,” Pigott said. “But he’s going to see the fundamental principle that they cannot have a nuclear weapon accomplished one way or another.”

Pigott emphasized the increasing flow of oil and the economic pressure on Tehran as indicators that the balance favors Trump. “We are seeing oil move [through] the Strait of Hormuz, increasing every single day,” he explained, highlighting the regime’s significant financial losses due to U.S. actions.

Rubio provided a similar perspective, indicating that Trump may be correct in thinking that Iran could be delaying a deal until after the midterm elections. “I think the Iranians misread our system,” he suggested, adding that Tehran seems to have a false belief that the Democratic Party’s success in November would weaken Trump’s stance against them.

He argued that while Congress plays a critical role, Tehran misunderstands the limitations of congressional power regarding sanctions and military actions. “The president has extraordinary powers. Every president does,” Rubio highlighted, citing the commander-in-chief’s authority to execute these functions.

Additionally, the administration faces energy infrastructure threats in the region, particularly from Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeting Saudi Arabia, creating more uncertainty for global energy markets.

Rubio noted that the resumption of a Saudi pipeline after Houthi attacks is crucial for both the kingdom’s and the global economy’s stability, pointing out that infrastructure attacks have been attributed to Iranian-supported actors.

In response to inquiries about potential military actions, Rubio confirmed the U.S. commitment to defend Saudi Arabia while keeping future military strategies under discussion.

“They are a strategic defense partner,” he asserted. “The U.S. made commitments to them. We will live up to those commitments. We are living up to those commitments now.”