Trump casts doubt on resumed Iran strikes as Rubio defends unpopular conflict

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on renewed military confrontation with Iran, telling broadcaster CNN that resuming strikes is "highly unlikely" so long as diplomatic negotiations continue to make headway.

"The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary... I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard," Trump said, though he cautioned that avoiding escalation "depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement."

Trump asserted that severe economic disruption would compel Tehran to accept Washington's terms, saying the country is suffering 301 percent inflation: "They're withering away financially. We've hit them militarily. We could finish them off."

He noted, however, that the US military has mapped potential infrastructure targets, including 38 bridges, should hostilities restart.

Rubio defends war

Trump's remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that diplomatic mediation has temporarily halted while parties evaluate the political impact of Tuesday's US midterm elections, which saw Democrats seize Congress amid public anger over fuel prices and the eight-month war.

"For the past few days, there has been no more travel [by mediators], and the reason for this is the shock that the election results in the United States have caused to everyone," Araghchi told state television.

In Florida, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mounted a staunch defence of the military campaign prior to attending a G7 summit in Paris, declaring Trump took action to eliminate a nuclear threat irrespective of political fallout.

"Confronting difficult challenges for the security of our country — doing it isn't necessarily popular, but necessary," Rubio said.

Trump concurred with Vice President JD Vance’s assessment that the conflict drove Republican election losses, but insisted: "Historically, this will go down as one of the best things we ever did."

Tehran maintains that negotiations over its atomic activities—including 441 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—cannot advance until Washington lifts sanctions, releases frozen assets, provides war compensation, ends its naval blockade, and halts regional operations.

TRT World & Agencies — TRT World & Agencies

Photo: AP