Trump Considers Iran Strikes After Stalled Talks
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- Trump convened a senior national security meeting on May 22, 2026, with Vice President J D Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
- Trump warned that Iran is “dying to make a deal” but said the U.S. will “hit them hard” if negotiations fail, emphasizing the goal of preventing Iran’s nuclear weapons capability.
- Trump cancelled his planned weekend at the Bedminster Golf Club and posted on Truth Social that he would skip his son Don Jr.’s wedding to stay in Washington during the crisis.
- Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 19 that he wanted to give diplomacy another chance, but by Thursday night was leaning toward ordering a strike.
- Trump noted that diplomatic talks, described by a U.S. official as “agonising” with daily draft exchanges, have made only “slight progress,” according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks in Sweden.
Why it matters: If Trump orders strikes, oil markets could tighten further, raising crude prices for U.S. consumers and squeezing refineries that already face 900‑barrel inventory deficits in the coming weeks.
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