Donald Trump said on Thursday he told JD Vance to focus entirely on domestic affairs rather than negotiating an end to the Iran conflict, detikNews reported.
The directive came shortly after The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance was considering face-to-face talks with a senior Iranian security official. Trump stated on Truth Social that cleaning up crime and corruption in Democratic-run cities would save more money than any deal with Tehran, according to CNN Indonesia. “Anggaran kita bisa segera SEIMBANG dengan membereskan aktivitas kriminal berskala besar ini,” Trump wrote on Thursday, November 12, 2026, as reported by detikNews.
Trump also asserted that Washington holds hundreds of billions of dollars in Iranian assets and controls the Strait of Hormuz. “Kita tidak membutuhkan kesepakatan dengan Iran,” he wrote, according to CNBC Indonesia. The remarks follow the Republican Party’s defeat in the November 3 midterm elections, where public anger over fuel prices tied to the conflict played a major role, detikNews reported.
Vice President Vance Ordered to Target Democratic Cities
Trump directed Vance to devote his full attention to alleged corruption and large-scale crime in states and cities managed by Democrats, CNN Indonesia reported. He specifically named Minnesota, California, and Illinois as examples of areas suffering from severe mismanagement and theft, according to CNBC Indonesia.
“Saya telah meminta Wakil Presiden Vance memfokuskan perhatiannya sepenuhnya pada korupsi dan kejahatan besar-besaran yang terjadi di kota-kota dan negara bagian pimpinan Partai Demokrat,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, as cited by CNN Indonesia.
“Negara-negara bagian yang dikuasai Demokrat, seperti Minnesota, California, Illinois, dan banyak lagi, semuanya dikelola dengan buruk, penuh korupsi, dan merupakan bencana. Miliaran dolar dicuri setiap bulannya!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, as cited by CNN Indonesia, claiming that tackling these domestic issues would quickly balance the federal budget, a point also covered by detikNews.
This domestic assignment effectively pauses the diplomatic track that Vance had been exploring. Earlier reports indicated that Vance was weighing direct meetings with Tehran’s security officials to resolve the conflict that entered its ninth month, according to CNBC Indonesia.
Trump maintains naval blockade despite concluded military conflict
Trump stated earlier in the week that the military conflict with Iran has largely concluded, though the United States maintains a naval blockade and stands ready to strike if necessary, Kompas.com reported. During a White House press conference on Monday, November 9, 2026, Trump met with Vance and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, according to Kompas.com.
“Iran secara militer pada dasarnya sudah berakhir,” Trump said, as quoted by Kompas.com. He added that the current naval blockade and the newly formed Task Force Iron Gate operate at the request of regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, Kompas.com reported.
Despite the military assessment, oil prices have fluctuated amid uncertainty over future diplomatic steps. CNBC Indonesia said that U.S. stock index futures edged lower following Trump’s social media posts declaring that Washington no longer needs a pact with Tehran.
Why Trump told Vance to stop Iran negotiations
Why did President Trump tell Vice President Vance to stop Iran negotiations?
Trump said that the United States already holds billions in Iranian assets and controls the Strait of Hormuz, making a formal agreement unnecessary. He instructed Vance to prioritize domestic issues such as crime and corruption in Democratic-run cities, detikNews reported.
/data/photo/2026/04/17/69e201c2c76de.jpg "Photo: Kompas.com")
How did the midterm elections influence this shift in policy?
The Republican Party suffered a major defeat in the November 3 midterm elections, with voters turning away due to high fuel prices caused by the war, detikNews reported. CNBC Indonesia said that Vance and other Republicans had previously linked these electoral losses to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
What is the current status of the military conflict with Iran?
Trump declared during a November 9 press conference that Iran’s military capabilities are essentially finished, though the U.S. maintains a naval blockade and a state of readiness, Kompas.com reported. The war reached its ninth month while continuing to impact global energy prices, according to CNBC Indonesia.
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