Washington, Aug 2026 : US President Donald Trump has instructed his top envoys to halt discussions with Iran, despite what US officials described as some “positive discussions” between the two sides, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Trump directed his negotiating team, including Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, not to engage further with Tehran for the time being. The move signals a significant shift in Washington’s approach as Trump remains dissatisfied with Iran’s refusal to accept his demands for ending the conflict and reaching a broader agreement.
According to the report, Trump wants to wait until Iran’s leadership demonstrates a renewed willingness to accept the terms he is seeking before the United States resumes negotiations.
The White House is now reportedly considering a strategy aimed at gradually increasing economic pressure on Tehran rather than immediately launching additional military strikes. CNN quoted a source familiar with the administration’s thinking as saying Washington is seeking to “strangle” Iran economically over time.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also indicated that Washington is preparing unprecedented financial measures against Tehran. He said the United States was targeting Iranian bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets and assets held around the world as part of an intensified campaign to restrict Iran’s access to international financial networks.
Bessent said the measures were intended to disrupt payments reaching Iran’s leadership and government, signalling that financial pressure would remain a key component of the administration’s strategy.
The latest development comes after Trump repeatedly suggested that negotiations with Iran were making progress. However, in a social media post on Tuesday, he said there were currently “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled” with Tehran.
Trump also maintained that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. At the same time, he claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was “open and operating” and that all mines in the strategic waterway had either been removed or detonated.
His claims came amid continuing reports that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below normal levels, with concerns over security and the ongoing regional confrontation affecting maritime traffic.
The Strait remains one of the central points of contention between Washington and Tehran. Iran has resisted US demands regarding the waterway and the broader terms for ending the conflict.
The uncertainty surrounding negotiations increased after a 60-day negotiating period established under a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran expired on Monday without an extension.
The collapse of the negotiating window has left the future of diplomatic engagement unclear, while Washington appears increasingly focused on economic and financial pressure. With Trump ordering his envoys to step back from talks, the immediate prospects for a renewed US-Iran agreement remain uncertain.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
