President Trump said Friday he was “not satisfied” with a new Iranian proposal to end the war, effectively shutting the door on diplomacy for now and raising the possibility of renewed military strikes.
The offer, conveyed through Pakistan, came as the war entered its 10th week and economic pressures mounted at home. Speaking in Florida, where he was spending the weekend and planned to attend a PGA event, Trump made clear there was “still no deal in sight.” He said, “So they want to make a deal, but I don’t. I’m not satisfied with it,” and later posed a stark alternative — “do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever,” though he added, “I’d prefer not.”
Olivia Gazis, traveling with the president, reported that while talks are stalled the administration has also told Congress that hostilities were, the White House said, “terminated.” The Strait of Hormuz remains closed — a chokehold for global energy supplies that officials say is driving prices higher worldwide.
The economic impact is already being felt at the pump. AAA reported the national average for a gallon of regular rose to $4.43, up about $0.04 overnight and more than $1.20 from a year ago — the highest level since July 2022. Rising fuel costs are adding political strain: polling shows support for military action in Iran at historic lows.
The president also renewed pressure on U.S. allies, criticizing NATO partners for not doing more to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, the U.S. announced plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, after that country’s chancellor said earlier this week the United States had been humiliated by Iranian leadership.
With diplomacy stalled and military options on the table, the situation continues to put economic and political pressure on the administration while leaving energy markets and consumers to absorb rising costs.