Trump Vows No ‘Early’ Iran Exit After Saying ‘Not Satisfied’ With ‘Messed Up’ Tehran’s Proposal

01:23 2.5.2026

US ⁠President Donald Trump on May 1 said the US would not quit its confrontation with Iran “early” only to face renewed difficulties in the future, hours after he said he was “not satisfied” with the latest peace proposal offered by Tehran through Pakistani mediators.

“We’re not going to leave early and have the problem arise in three more years,” Trump told a gathering at a retirement community in Florida, adding that Tehran was “not coming through with the kind of deal we have to have.”

Earlier, Trump insisted that Tehran was seeking a peace deal but that it was not good enough for him.

“They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump told journalists outside the White House.

The president said Tehran seeks a peace deal “because they don’t have a military left,” following a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on February 28 and has been halted since a cease-fire between the United States and Iran came into effect on April 8.

“They have a tremendous problem getting along with each other in Iran. The leadership is very disjointed…They all want to make a deal, but they all are messed up,” Trump said.

“Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever — or do we want to try and make a deal?” he said, adding that he would prefer to avoid the first option “on a human basis.”

While the Iranian Foreign Ministry appears to continue diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Washington on key issues of the conflict, hard-line clerics and lawmakers have publicly opposed any major concessions.

War Powers Act

Separately, amid political pressure to seek approval from lawmakers to continue the war, Trump insisted the cease-fire announced last month means that hostilities have officially been “terminated,” eliminating the need for further congressional authorization.

Trump made the claim in a letter to lawmakers on May 1 — which was the deadline to come to Congress about the war — saying there have been no exchanges of fire with Iran forces since the April 7 cease-fire.

“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump said.

“We had a cease-fire, so that gives you additional time,” Trump added.

At issue is the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Under the terms, a US president can wage military action for only 60 days before ending it and then asking Congress for the authority to continue.

Democratic lawmakers disputed Trump’s claim that the cease-fire resets the 60-day deadline.

“Despite the administration’s spurious claims, the cease-fire does not pause or terminate the War Powers clock,” a statement by top Democratic members of the House of Representatives said.

“Hostilities have not ceased; both sides are enforcing naval blockades through military force. From Day One, this has been an unauthorized war of choice based on a demonstrably false premise of an imminent Iranian threat and as of today, 60 days in, there is still no congressional authorization for President Trump’s war,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by Gregory W. Meeks, ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith, ranking member of the Armed Services Committee; and Jim Himes, ranking member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Meanwhile, news outlet Axios reported that the Pentagon has estimated that the US blockade of Iranian ports has cost Tehran $4.8 billion.

Source: blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=453787

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.