Report Reveals U.S. Concern Over War’s Endgame as Iran Rules Out Talks

Iran ruled out negotiations with the United States on Monday even as President Donald Trump said the war against Tehran was “nearly complete,” highlighting growing uncertainty over how the conflict could ultimately end. The development came as a Wall Street Journal report said some of Trump’s advisers have privately urged him to outline a public exit strategy for the war, warning that a prolonged conflict could erode political support despite claims of major battlefield successes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS NewsHour that negotiations with Washington were no longer under consideration, arguing that past diplomatic talks had been undermined by military strikes. “I don't think talking with Americans anymore would be on our agenda,” Araghchi said.

According to Araghchi, Iranian officials had previously been told that the United States did not intend to attack during diplomatic discussions. “This year, they tried to convince us that this time is different. They promised us that they don't have any intention to attack us,” he said.

The Iranian minister also rejected accusations that Tehran was deliberately escalating tensions by threatening regional oil shipments. Araghchi said shipping companies were increasingly reluctant to pass through the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict but insisted Iran was not preventing vessels from using the strategic waterway.

Instead, he blamed the United States and Israel for destabilizing the region. “This is a war imposed on us,” Araghchi said. “What we are doing is only defending ourselves. We are facing an act of aggression, which is absolutely illegal.”

Araghchi also warned that Iran could target U.S. assets in the region if American attacks continue. “If the US attacks us, since we cannot reach the American soil, we have to attack their bases in the region, their facilities, their installations, their assets,” he said, adding that such a scenario could expand the conflict across the Middle East.

Trump, however, has repeatedly said the U.S.–Israel campaign against Iran has achieved most of its objectives and is progressing faster than expected. Speaking Monday, the president said the war was “very far ahead of schedule” and claimed that Iranian military capabilities had been heavily degraded.

“I think the war is very much complete, pretty much,” Trump said. “If you look, they have nothing left. There's nothing left in a military sense.”

At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported that some advisers around Trump have privately warned that a prolonged war could weaken political support if fighting drags on. According to the report, they have urged the president to begin shaping a public message describing how the United States could bring the war to a close.

The White House strongly denied the report. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the story relied on anonymous sources who were not involved in decision-making around the president and insisted the administration remained focused on continuing Operation Epic Fury.

“The vast majority of Americans support ending the threat posed by the Iranian regime and support killing terrorists, and that is what President Trump is going to achieve,” Leavitt said.

The conflicting signals come as the war enters its second week, with Iran rejecting negotiations while U.S. officials continue to describe the military campaign as nearing completion.