Trump: Victory in Iran war soon, and new talks this week
US President Donald Trump said he expects the United States to achieve a "very soon" victory in the war with Iran and that Washington will not allow Tehran to possess a nuclear weapon. In remarks to Fox News he said he expected oil prices to return to their previous levels once the war ends, and told Axios he expected further talks with Iran this week despite rejecting Tehran's latest proposal. US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington rejected the Iranian proposal because of preconditions that included lifting sanctions, releasing frozen assets and ending the US naval blockade.
Why it matters: The linkage Trump draws between the war's end, oil prices and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz places energy security at the centre of the negotiating position on both sides.