US President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed reports that he is seeking a meeting with Iranian officials to negotiate an agreement, insisting that Tehran is the side pushing for renewed talks.
"Jonathan Hunt of FoxNews did a particularly inaccurate report on the Failing Islamic Republic of Iran. I don’t want to meet, they do. In fact, they are begging to make a deal. Bret Baier should straighten out his flunkies, for a change!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The President followed up with another post declaring, "Iran Is a Failing Nation!"
Trump also told reporters at the White House earlier on Thursday that Washington is not engaged in discussions with Tehran. He said the administration is instead concentrating on economic pressure and warned that countries conducting business with Iran could face penalties.
"We don't want to speak to them. We're not looking to meet or anything," Trump stated.
Trump’s comments follow his remarks a day earlier indicating that he has no timetable for the conflict with Iran and is willing to let the fighting continue for as long as necessary.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Trump said he was “not in a hurry" to resume negotiations with Tehran and stressed: “I have no time schedule, none."
He also said that both economic pressure and military action against Iran had been “both effective."
Trump further portrayed Iran’s economic situation as worsening, saying the country was facing “massive inflation" and that its economy was “falling apart." He also accused the Iranian government of “treating their people very badly, they are killing many, many protesters."
Negotiations between the United States and Iran over a permanent agreement remain stalled. While US strikes against the Islamic Republic continued until recently, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced “Operation Economic Outcast," a major economic campaign intended to isolate Iran and cut off revenue streams supporting the Iranian regime.
Although military strikes have currently paused, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Monday that Washington has not eliminated the possibility of further military action against Iran.
“By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran," Hegseth told reporters.
Hegseth also said Iran is unable to withstand the economic pressure being imposed by the United States.