HIGHPOLITICALVERIFIED

Trump: 'Don't know if we can make Iran deal' — claims war 'extremely ahead of schedule' at day 26

2026-03-26 · 14:45 UTC·Washington DC, USA

VP Vance declared Iran's conventional military 'effectively destroyed.' Trump walked back deal optimism at cabinet, then in a Fox News call-in backed off earlier regime change enthusiasm, saying Iranians are 'petrified' of taking to streets because 'one side has guns and they shoot you.' He later extended the April 6 deadline explicitly citing an 'Iranian government request,' saying talks are 'going very well.' Iran's 'gift' was allowing 8 tankers through Hormuz. Witkoff reported 'strong signs' Iran will accept the deal.

At the White House cabinet meeting on 26 March 2026, senior US officials made major statements. VP Vance: 'Iran's conventional military is effectively destroyed.' SecState Rubio: nuclear Iran could 'kill millions of Americans.' DefSec Hegseth attacked press coverage. Trump on the Friday deadline: 'I don't know... We have a lot of time. A day in Trump time is an eternity.' Trump on Hormuz: 'We don't need the Hormuz Strait. We have so much oil. We have twice the amount of oil as Saudi Arabia or Russia.' Trump revealed Iran's 'gift' that showed goodwill: 'They said, to show you the fact that we're real and solid, we're going to let you have eight big boats of oil' — claiming they were Pakistani-flagged tankers passing through Hormuz. On Iranian oil: 'It's an option, but I wouldn't talk about it.' Trump also said: 'I've done a great favor for the world, and the world has not been reciprocal.' Witkoff reported separately that there are 'strong signs' Iran will accept the 15-point plan.

trumpcabinetdiplomacyiran-dealwar-statusahead-of-schedule

Actor responses

United StatesSUPPORTINGDIPLOMATIC

Trump at cabinet: 'I don't know if we'll be able to make a deal. They're lousy fighters but great negotiators. They are begging to make a deal — not me. Twenty-six days in, we're extremely ahead of schedule.'

IranOPPOSINGDIPLOMATIC

Iran simultaneously rejected the US 15-point plan as one-sided and unfair, while separately confirming it sent a formal response and is awaiting Washington's reply — suggesting a continued back-channel exchange despite public hostility.

Israel Defense ForcesSUPPORTINGPOLITICAL

Israel has not commented on Trump's cabinet remarks. Israeli leaders have been coordinating closely with Washington on both military and diplomatic tracks.

Sources

T1Times of Israel Liveblog9% reliability