Trump threatens to annihilate Iran, admits deal won't come — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Trump threatened to 'annihilate the Islamic Republic' of Iran and 'plunge it into hell with no chance of survival' if a deal ending the war is not reached, framing it as a choice between rebuilding Iran or destroying it.
- Trump acknowledged that an agreement with Iran would not happen until 'right after the election,' a notable shift from repeated assertions that a deal was imminent and a comment made in a prepared speech.
- Trump insisted he would give 'absolutely no credence' to the upcoming election in shaping his Iran policy, even as high fuel prices linked to the conflict appear to threaten Republican midterm prospects.
- Trump declared Cuba an 'absolutely failed state' that 'will fall' and labeled Mexico the 'epicentre' of drug cartels, prompting delegates from Cuba and Iran to walk out during his address.
- CNN poll data released around the speech showed only 29% of American adults approve of Trump’s foreign affairs handling, with approval on Iran at 26%, down seven points since the conflict began in late February.
Why it matters: Trump’s admission that Iran talks won’t conclude until after the election undermines his narrative of diplomatic urgency, potentially prolonging a conflict that is already driving up fuel prices—materially affecting voter sentiment just six weeks before midterms where inflation is a top concern.
Ask SkimNews
