Trump Orders Vance to Drop Iran and Hunt Domestic Corruption
The president's directive follows a week of midterm defeats and new reports that the vice president is weighing fresh talks with Tehran.
By Gavin Wilson ·
President Donald Trump directed Vice President JD Vance on Thursday to stop focusing on the war in Iran. The president wants Vance to concentrate instead on fighting corruption and crime in areas controlled by Democrats.
The order appeared in a social media post. Trump stated, “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!” This message followed his earlier claim that the conflict is militarily over.
The directive lands after Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the midterm elections on Nov. 3. Vance, who led negotiations for a short-lived truce during the eight-month war, blamed the conflict for the political defeat. He wrote on X that losing the Senate for six years was a costly price to pay for the war. He argued that critics who call the loss worthwhile should say so honestly.
Democrats have promised to scrutinize Trump’s business dealings when they take control of Congress in January. Voters cited corruption as a top concern in the recent election. Trump’s post responded partly to that shift in power. It also followed a Wall Street Journal report that Vance is considering new direct talks with a senior Iranian official.
The White House press office confirmed in an email that Trump sees no need to negotiate with Iran. The vice president’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Vance, who has considered a 2028 presidential run, faces a challenge from voter dissatisfaction with the war. Trump said on a Sunday interview with CBS “60 Minutes” that he may or may not endorse a successor for the 2028 race.
Oil shipments from the Strait of Hormuz have returned to near prewar levels. However, international tankers still rely on U.S. Navy escorts to exit the region. The U.S. military has conducted limited strikes on Iranian air defenses. Attacks on ships have increased despite the return of crude and gas exports.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported two recent incidents. One tanker was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The crew evacuated safely with no casualties. A second tanker was struck in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday. Multiple crew members were taken ashore for medical help. The remaining crew was safe.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his G7 counterparts in Paris this week to help protect ships. He acknowledged that the group made no headway on the issue. A Saudi-led coalition continues to fight Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, making the Bab el-Mandeb Strait dangerous for transport. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the U.S. asked President Vladimir Putin to facilitate direct talks. The White House did not directly confirm the request.
