President Donald Trump will convene a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, scrapping earlier plans for a gathering of top administration officials at Camp David. The high-level session comes as the United States reports being “close” to finalizing a phase one agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. Trump expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations while underscoring America’s firm position. “Iran is negotiating on fumes, and they want very much to make a deal,” Trump said Wednesday. “So far, they haven’t gotten there, we’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. Either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
Trump emphasized that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded. “Their navy is gone… their air force is gone, everything’s gone,” he said. He added that the American public understands Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, dismissing any notion that domestic political timelines would influence U.S. resolve. “They thought they were going to outwait me… ‘We’ll outwait him. He’s got the midterms.’ I don’t care about the midterms,” Trump stated, referencing recent electoral developments as evidence of public support for a strong stance.
Former CENTCOM Commander Gen. Joseph Votel described Iran’s reported attempts to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz as an effort to “hedge its bets” and increase pressure on the United States during talks. Votel praised the U.S. military’s rapid response to the threat. “CENTCOM detecting that and then taking military action to address it very, very quickly” demonstrated an “effective use of military force,” Votel said on Fox News. He noted that both military and diplomatic efforts would be required going forward.
Military Response and Diplomatic Challenges
The comments followed U.S. Central Command’s announcement of “self-defense strikes” on Monday in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and two Iranian vessels allegedly laying mines in the strategic waterway. Negotiations face unique challenges due to the status of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been designated a target. Counterterrorism experts warned that any final agreement would require approval through secret courier networks, creating an unprecedented structure for high-stakes diplomacy.
Iran is seeking the release of approximately $24 billion in frozen assets as part of a potential deal, according to Tasnim News, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The network reported Tehran is pushing for $12 billion to be released immediately upon a memorandum of understanding, with the remainder delivered over 60 days. Oil markets appeared to anticipate easing tensions. NYMEX crude hovered around $93.57 per barrel Tuesday afternoon, down slightly. FOX Business analysts noted investors are betting on the eventual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing threats.
