Trump Rejects War Renewal With Iran As Talks Stall

U.S. President Donald Trump told CNN that a resumption of fighting with Iran is highly unlikely as long as peace talks continue. Mr. Trump said he would act if necessary, but claimed he had already hit the country very hard. Any return to hostilities depends on whether Iran signs a strong agreement, he added. Mr. Trump also pointed to Iran's severe economic pressures, claiming the nation faces 301 percent inflation. He stated that economic distress will push Iranian leaders to accept a peace deal on U.S. terms. Earlier, Mr. Trump acknowledged that the unpopular war contributed to his Republican Party's stinging defeat in the midterm elections.

## Reaction

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that peace talks paused while both sides assess the political fallout from the Democratic Party's landslide victory in the U.S. elections. Mr. Araghchi told state television that no mediator travel has occurred for days due to the shock of the election results, adding that time is needed to digest the outcome before moving forward. Meanwhile, French officials stated that a cyber unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out October cyberattacks on commercial refrigeration across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden. The Paris Prosecutor's office said the hacks struck 700 retail locations in France, causing significant food spoilage and about twenty fires. A senior UAE official also noted that the U.S.-Iran conflict is unlikely to settle decisively for a long period due to deep nuclear disputes and severe economic pressure on Tehran.

## Context

Strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz remain crucial for global oil shipments, and disruptions there directly impact fuel prices worldwide. Economic sanctions and military conflicts often push inflation rates higher in targeted nations while creating political fallout for leaders in power.