00:00U.S. President Donald Trump said that the U.S. does not need a deal with Iran,
00:04just as his vice president was reportedly exploring a return to peace talks.
00:09Trump has told J.D. Vance to turn his attention instead
00:11to alleged crime and corruption in democratic-run cities and states.
00:17The Wall Street Journal reports that days before last week's U.S. midterm elections,
00:22Vance was speaking with intermediaries in Iran and Qatar about restarting negotiations to end the war.
00:28In the lead-up to the midterms, Trump had suggested that Iran would be more willing
00:32to strike a deal after the elections. But on Thursday, in a post on Truth Social,
00:37Trump appeared to close the door on renewed talks, saying the U.S. does not need a deal with Iran.
00:42His administration now argues that its blockade and economic sanctions are working.
00:47Earlier this week, Trump also described the war as effectively over.
00:51That marks a shift from his earlier threat to launch new strikes if no deal was reached.
00:55It also appears to push Vance away from a central role in Iran diplomacy,
01:00after the vice president publicly blamed the war for the Republican Party's midterm losses.
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