Trump says return to war with Iran 'highly unlikely' as long as sides continue negotiations

WASHINGTON — President Trump revealed Sunday it is “highly unlikely” that the US will resume the war in Iran as long as talks over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program continue to make progress. “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump told during a phone interview . “The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary. They’re a failing nation. It just came out, you saw this year, 301% inflation. Highly unlikely it will be necessary.”

“So it’s highly unlikely I’ll have to,” he went on. “They’re withering away financially. We’ve hit them militarily. We could finish them off.” 4 President Donald Trump speaks in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein 4 President Donald Trump speaks at the East Wing ballroom construction site at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. AFP via Getty Images Trump previously signaled that he was unlikely to resume the military campaign against Iran until after the midterm elections last Tuesday, but has since conveyed optimism about the progress being made in negotiations.

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Sobhan Farajvan/Pacific Press/Shutterstock 4 A giant poster depicting Donald Trump, JD Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu and Steve Witkoff is displayed in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 3, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images Still, he has maintained a blockade around Iran to cripple the US adversary economically. Democrats have vowed to adopt a resolution restricting Trump’s ability to wage war on Iran once they retake control of Congress in January.