Trump Officials Warn Iran Misreads Midterms After 3-Hour Talks End Without Breakthrough
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 27
Trump Officials Warn Iran Misreads Midterms After 3-Hour Talks End Without Breakthrough
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 27
Summary
Three hours of U.S.-Iran talks this week produced no announced breakthrough, but Trump officials said Tehran is wrong to think higher U.S. fuel costs or November midterms will weaken Washington's hand.
Rubio and State Department officials argued the White House still holds leverage through sanctions, military authority and control over Strait of Hormuz traffic, where nearly 40 million barrels transited in 48 hours.
Gasoline averaged $4.49 a gallon on Friday, up from $3.16 a year earlier, as Hormuz volatility and high crude prices lifted costs that Rubio acknowledged but said were still preferable to a nuclear-armed Iran.
Iran has floated a seven-day plan to restore full Hormuz passage if conditions are met, while U.S. officials described mediator-led discussions as positive and constructive but said they are in no rush.
The standoff reaches beyond the talks: Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and other Iran-backed threats are keeping global energy markets and U.S. regional defense commitments under pressure.