Donald Trump told domestic media that the U.S. is currently maintaining its stance toward Iran, prepared to delay military measures against Iran, and acknowledged that negotiations to end the war have also slowed down.
Donald Trump, U.S. president, said in a telephone interview with Axios on Sunday, 9 Aug 2026 GMT+7, that the U.S. is ready to delay new military measures against Iran to monitor the impact of economic pressure on Tehran, marking a sudden shift from recent threats.
"We are maintaining our stance," Trump told Axios, adding that talks about a deal to end the Iran war have also slowed. "We are only in a semi-negotiation phase with them. We are watching Iran, which is facing massive inflation and the reality that they have no money."
This marks a major shift in Trump’s position from 3 Aug, when he warned that he was giving Iran a last chance to accept a peace deal or risk being “decapitated.” At that time, Trump said he decided to delay “the biggest attack since World War II” at the request of allied nations.
The latest statement from the U.S. president comes as Iran is negotiating with Oman and demanding that the U.S. meet certain conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including compensation payments and lifting sanctions. However, the U.S. is not participating in these Iran-Oman talks.
Previously, Trump often boasted that the U.S. naval blockade, which is sealing off Iranian ports, has severely damaged Tehran’s economy. He told Axios that Iran is “in very bad shape” as a result of the blockade.
However, global oil prices continue to rise due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing U.S. gasoline prices to exceed $4 per gallon as of 10 Aug, compared to $2.98 when Trump began the war on 28 Feb.
Throughout the five months of war, Trump has frequently spoken about efforts to reach a peace deal that would eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Yet, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) both countries reached in June quickly collapsed, and since then, there has been little progress toward an agreement.
Trump emphasized to Axios, “Everything will be fine. It’s always fine. It’s like a game of chess.”
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Source:usatoday