Trump: Iran Wants a Deal at Any Cost, War Could End Before or After Midterm Elections

International Voice – September 14, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran is seeking to reach a deal “at any cost,” while stressing that he would not agree to what he described as a “bad deal.”

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the war with Iran could end immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, while also suggesting that it could conclude before the elections take place.

Addressing the economic consequences, Trump said gasoline prices “will come down quickly and return to where they were,” while maintaining that the decision to go to war was necessary.

The U.S. president stressed that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon and said it “will not have a nuclear weapon.” He added that Tehran wants to reach a deal “at any cost” and that Iranian officials continue to say so.

Trump also reiterated that he would not make a “bad deal” with Iran, indicating that any agreement acceptable to Washington would have to be perfect.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, said in a post that Iran would not surrender, adding that if the Americans wanted to fight, they should confront Iranian forces rather than target civilian infrastructure.

The statements come as the maritime confrontation between the United States and Iran expands, increasingly drawing shipping and energy supplies into the escalation, with strikes and attacks involving oil tankers and other vessels in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Against this backdrop, Iran and Gulf countries are preparing to hold a meeting in Oman on Monday to discuss maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, amid diplomatic efforts aimed at containing regional tensions.

The meeting comes amid disagreements over arrangements governing maritime traffic and fees imposed on vessels passing through the strait. According to an Iranian official who spoke to Reuters, the meeting is not expected to conclude with the signing of a final agreement but will instead provide a framework for discussing regional issues and the strategic shipping corridor.