US President Donald Trump has asserted that the United States is in no rush to conclude its ongoing conflict with Iran, labelling it as “not a typical war.” He emphasised that the US has time on its side, despite months of fighting and failed diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting resolution. Trump indicated that Tehran is eager to negotiate but is grappling with significant internal challenges, including financial difficulties affecting its military personnel.

In comments made in the Oval Office, Trump stated, “There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking.” He elaborated on Iran’s internal issues, claiming, “They’re not paying their soldiers, they’re not paying their police. They’re in a lot of trouble.” The President noted that the conflict has persisted for seven months, suggesting a unique nature to the war.

Trump downplayed the financial implications of the military campaign, asserting that the US is spending relatively little on the conflict. He claimed that any expenditure has been compensated tenfold through other avenues, specifically mentioning Venezuela, although he did not provide specific figures to support this assertion.

Military Options Remain Open Amid Negotiations

Despite his comments on negotiations, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of renewed military action against Iran. Recently, he referred to the potential for “another little Epic Fury,” alluding to a previous military operation against Iran. He also suggested that a significant agreement with Tehran could still be achievable.

Trump’s remarks come at a time when the future direction of the conflict remains uncertain. While he has indicated that Iran is interested in reaching an agreement, substantial disagreements persist between Washington and Tehran regarding key issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions, and the US blockade of Iranian ports.

On September 29, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in the United States. The discussions focused on the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, along with other regional issues. This meeting followed a conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump, where Erdogan expressed Turkey’s commitment to monitoring developments in the region and supporting diplomatic efforts.

Conflict Timeline and Mediation Efforts

The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel conducted strikes on Iran, targeting its military infrastructure. These attacks resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran against US-linked targets. The situation escalated further, affecting shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil supplies.

In response to the ongoing hostilities, Pakistan intensified its mediation efforts, which led to a two-week pause in fighting announced on April 8. This pause allowed for initial negotiations, although it did not resolve the underlying disputes between the two nations. Subsequent diplomatic initiatives, including a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, aimed to establish a framework for ending military operations but failed to yield a comprehensive settlement.

Recent attempts to revive negotiations included a proposal from Iran in September, linking the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to US actions regarding its blockade. However, Trump rejected this proposal, and the two sides remain divided on the sequence of commitments needed to progress. As diplomatic channels remain active, the core disagreement persists: the US seeks to address Iran’s nuclear programme first, while Tehran demands the lifting of sanctions before broader discussions can advance.

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