CNN: Trump shifts strategy on Iran, orders halt to talks

US President Donald Trump has instructed members of his administration to stop negotiations with Iran, CNN reports, citing a US official.

The official added that the United States has informed its political allies of a shift in strategy, moving away from “hammer Iran ASAP” toward a strategy to “strangle them” over time.

While Trump had repeatedly said that negotiations were going well and that a new deal was close to being reached, the US president is now saying that no diplomatic efforts are underway on this front, CNN noted.

According to sources cited by the network, Trump instructed his negotiating team — including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff — not to engage with Tehran. 

Although the president issued the order after what had been described as “positive talks” with Iran, CNN sources said Trump was dissatisfied with Tehran’s unwillingness to make concessions to his demands. Before resuming negotiations, Trump wants to wait for Iran’s leaders to demonstrate their readiness to reach the deal he is seeking.

Trump previously wrote on Truth Social that the United States is not holding and does not plan to hold negotiations with Iran.

By Jeyhun Aghazada