Trump Addresses Iran Conflict Status, Peace Talks in Remarks to Reporters

By [Neutral News Service]

*WASHINGTON – March 26, 2026*

President Donald Trump discussed the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, military operations, and peace negotiations during an extended question-and-answer session with reporters on Thursday ahead of a Cabinet meeting. His remarks included claims of military success, criticism of NATO allies, and indifference to the timing of a potential peace deal.

Nearly a month after U.S. military strikes began against Iran on February 28, Trump stated that the conflict has already been "won" while noting that thousands of ground troops, including Marines, are deploying to the region. He described Iranian officials as eager for a deal, saying, "They are begging to make a deal, not me. They are begging to make a deal and anybody that saw what was happening over there would understand why they want to make a deal." Trump added, "The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit."

The war has resulted in 13 U.S. service member deaths, hundreds of serious injuries, thousands of Iranian casualties, and higher gasoline prices in the U.S., which have risen more than $1 per gallon since the conflict started, contributing to inflation.

Trump rejected a Wall Street Journal report from March 25 that portrayed him as eager to end the war quickly. "I read a story today that I’m desperate to make a deal…. I’m the opposite of desperate. I don’t care. I want to know ― in fact, we have other targets we want to hit before we leave. We’re hitting them on a daily basis," he said. Trump reiterated that "we already won" the war but indicated he is considering additional actions, such as seizing Iranian oil assets or using military forces to secure uranium stockpiles.

U.S. strikes under Operation Epic Fury have destroyed nearly 2,000 Iranian military targets, according to Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have described the operations as enabling progress in diplomatic talks. Deploying ground troops could increase risks to U.S. personnel, as they would be more vulnerable than aircraft and ships used so far.

Robert Kagan, a former Reagan administration State Department official and analyst at the Brookings Institution known for advocating neoconservative foreign policies including confrontation with Iran, predicted Trump would employ ground troops. "He definitely is going to use ground troops. They wouldn’t be sending them if they didn’t plan to use them," Kagan said. "Right now, he’s trying to buy time. Keep markets and oil prices calm. Keep his voters calm. While quietly telling Republicans to get ready to support ground troops. Which they will."

Trump criticized NATO allies for not assisting in efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which about one-fifth of global crude oil typically passes. He said NATO members have never aided the U.S., stating, "I said 25 years ago that NATO is a paper tiger, but more importantly, that we’ll come to their rescue, but they will never come to ours."

NATO's mutual defense clause, Article 5, was invoked once, following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., leading to allied support in Afghanistan. The alliance is defensive in nature and does not obligate members to join offensive operations initiated by another member.

Trump claimed the Strait of Hormuz closure does not affect the U.S., as it is a net oil exporter. "We don’t need the Hormuz Strait. We don’t need it. We don’t need it at all. We don’t ― we have so much oil. Our country is not affected by this," he said. However, oil trades on a global market, so supply disruptions anywhere, including the Hormuz Strait, raise prices worldwide, as evidenced by recent U.S. gasoline cost increases.

Later Thursday, Trump posted on social media that he was postponing strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure by 10 days, until April 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, at the request of the Iranian government. "Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well," he wrote.

Trump's special envoy to Iran, Steve Witkoff—a real estate developer, longtime friend, major campaign donor to Trump, and individual without prior foreign policy experience—confirmed he presented a 15-point peace plan to Iranian officials via Pakistani intermediaries. Iran dismissed the proposal as "fake news" and "unserious," according to Iranian statements, but responded with counterproposals through the same channel. During these talks, Iran launched multiple waves of missiles toward Israel, escalating tensions.

John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser during his first term and a proponent of military action against Iran, expressed skepticism about a deal. "I don’t think a deal is coming," Bolton said. "Not clear if there will even be a meeting."

A former National Security Council staffer, speaking anonymously, outlined two potential paths absent a quick agreement: Trump could declare victory and withdraw, or escalate further. "The latter is ripe with danger for our forces, and the former may not work if Iran isn’t ready to pull back from the fight," the staffer said.

Trump's remarks reflect a negotiation strategy common in high-stakes diplomacy: asserting military dominance—bolstered by U.S. strike successes—to pressure concessions while keeping diplomatic channels open. Iran's rejections and missile launches indicate active but contentious talks from both sides. The timeline for a peace agreement, which could allow U.S. forces to return home, remains uncertain.

*Related: Donald Trump | NATO | Iran conflict*

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