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US Officials Warn Iran Over Midterm Miscalculation
Developing
In Short: The administration asserts that Iran is miscalculating if it believes rising prices and the midterm elections will undermine Trump's negotiating position.
The Trump administration is projecting confidence that economic pressure will compel Iran to negotiate a deal, despite three hours of talks this week ending without a breakthrough.
President Trump argued that Iranian leaders are waiting to see the outcome of the November midterm elections, believing it could weaken his position.
An unnamed administration official told Fox News that the United States is in a strong position due to control over the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 40 million barrels of oil had transited in the previous 48 hours.
Trump officials described the three-hour meeting with Iranian officials as 'very good,' signaling a renewed diplomatic push to end the conflict.
Senator Marco Rubio warned that Iran is misreading the U.S. system, suggesting that Iran's strategy is flawed.
Rubio argued that allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would be far more costly than the current economic sanctions.
What this adds
Four Republican senators have previously defected from Trump's stance on the Iran war, voting with Democrats to limit his war powers.
Background
Four Republican senators defected from President Donald Trump's stance on the Iran war, voting with Democrats to limit his war powers as the conflict approaches the eight-month mark.
The summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for September 24 at the White House.
What's still developing
- "I think the Iranians misread our system," Rubio said.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged those costs Wednesday while arguing that allowing Iran to eventually obtain a nuclear weapon would carry a far greater price.
- General Assembly Tuesday, presenting Tehran with a choice between reaching a deal that would allow Iran to rebuild or facing potentially devastating further U.S.