According to a US official speaking to CNN on Tuesday, President Trump has instructed his senior government envoys to pause dialogue with Iran.
A source familiar with the matter said that White House officials have recently conveyed to political allies that they are shifting their strategy—from “striking Iran as soon as possible” to “strangling them over time.”
US officials said Tuesday that Trump’s directive to his negotiation team—including Vice President Vance, envoy Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Kushner—to temporarily avoid contact with Iran came after some “positive discussions” between the two sides.
The US official noted that Trump remains frustrated with Iran’s unwillingness to bend to his demands. He wants to wait until Iranian leaders signal a fresh willingness to reach the kind of deal he’s seeking before resuming engagement.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from Tehran, according to Chinese state media reports.
