President Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting that the midterms will not shape his Iran policy, reiterated that he will stop Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon, praised progress in talks while warning that military force is ready if diplomacy fails.

At a Wednesday cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump spoke directly about the war with Iran and the state of negotiations to end it. He framed the stakes clearly and spoke in plain terms about what he sees as nonnegotiable. The tone was firm and unapologetic, aimed at both allies and adversaries. Trump made clear that preventing a nuclear Iran is the central objective.

A reporter asked whether the upcoming midterm elections would affect how he handles the conflict, and Trump answered without hedging. “I don’t care about the midterms,” Trump said. “Look what happened last night. That was the prelude to the midterms. People understand that. They know that. Very simple. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I’m doing that for the world. I’m not doing it just for us.”

He tied the diplomatic push to a broader strategy and suggested the regime might be trying to outwait his administration. Trump implied Iran could be hoping for a different U.S. posture after November, but he rejected that calculation. The president argued the current pressure and negotiations are intended to secure a lasting outcome, not a temporary pause. That message was meant to signal continuity and resolve.

The progress of talks has not been uniform, and officials are cautious about overstating gains. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said recently that they are making “slight progress” in the peace talks, a modest assessment that matches the administration’s measured public posture. Trump described the talks to his Cabinet as going “very well,” yet he left no doubt about consequences if diplomacy stalls. He warned that War Secretary Pete Hegseth is prepared to resume devastating airstrikes if talks collapse, signaling a clear military backstop.

“They are starting to give us the things that they have to give us, and if they do, that’s great,” he said. “And if they won’t, then the man on my left is going to finish ’em off.”

The president refused to pin a specific end date on the conflict but insisted any conclusion would be swift if the terms are met. He told aides and reporters that an exit could come quickly once the right conditions are met. Trump contrasted the current campaign with protracted past wars to explain why patience doesn’t mean acquiescence. His point was that the United States can deliver decisive outcomes faster when political will and military readiness align.

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“The problem is, every time I mention a time frame — for instance… we’ve been doing this for a few months,” the president explained. “Vietnam lasted 19 years. Korea lasted eight years. Afghanistan lasted many years. They were all many, many years. And we’re into it for a few months. And I read about you, people like you, [saying] ‘What’s taking so long?’”

Trump also indicated a willingness to let diplomacy play out a little longer if it produces the needed concessions. Iran reportedly floated a draft proposal offering to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while demanding that the United States withdraw military forces from the region and lift any naval containment. Those items were presented as part of a bargaining posture intended to reset the situation in Tehran’s favor.

Washington, however, pushed back on that draft, saying it did not meet core U.S. conditions. U.S. officials made clear the demands fell short of what has been required to secure a credible, enforceable deal. The administration’s stance has been consistent: negotiations are an option, but they must produce verifiable steps that prevent Tehran from reconstituting a nuclear program. If diplomacy cannot secure that outcome, the president has left open the option to return to forceful measures.

The message trailing from the meeting is straightforward and unapologetic: diplomacy has a role, but strength and deterrence remain central. Trump’s remarks were aimed at both domestic audiences and foreign leaders, signaling that election calendars will not dictate national security choices. The administration appears set to keep pressure on Iran while testing whether negotiations can deliver irreversible results.