President Donald Trump declared Monday that upcoming talks with Iran represent the country's "last chance" to reach an agreement, even as he backed away from what he described as "the biggest attack since World War II" — the latest in a pattern of escalating threats followed by retreat that's defined his approach to the conflict. The announcement came five months after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, plunging the region into crisis and rattling global energy markets.
Trump said negotiations would begin within days, focusing first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway for global oil trade — before addressing Iran's nuclear program. "The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization," he told reporters at the Oval Office. "And that will take a little while."
A Pattern of Threats and Retreats
The president's announcement follows a familiar script. In early April, four months ago, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before Trump's deadline for Tehran to capitulate or face strikes he warned would mean "a whole civilization will die." Two months ago, on May 18, Trump held off on another major strike, citing "serious negotiations" and crediting Gulf allies for persuading him to show restraint. In June, he threatened to seize Iran's Kharg Island energy base before calling off strikes in another social media post.
Trump said he scrapped Sunday's planned massive strike after hearing from Gulf leaders — including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — as well as unnamed Iranian officials. "This the last chance for them to sign a good document," he told reporters.
A person briefed on Trump's Saturday call with the Saudi crown prince said the leader conveyed that escalation could severely impact the global economy if Tehran responded by targeting U.S. Gulf allies. Saudi officials have emphasized that while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates can defend themselves, Kuwait remains vulnerable to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Public Opposition Grows
About two-thirds of U.S. adults say the war with Iran hasn't been worthwhile, according to polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research published last week. That includes the vast majority of Democrats and independents, as well as about 37% of Republicans.
Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump's approach on CBS News' "Face the Nation." "I think what we're seeing here is a president who has an approach that's just rather erratic," Kelly said. "At this point, he's trying to get us back to February. And I think if he could — if he had a big reset button he could hit — he would certainly take that option."
Even Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana acknowledged on NBC's "Meet the Press" that further escalation could lead to another surge in already elevated energy prices and "a lot of inflation for the American people." Kennedy suggested tightening sanctions and targeting Iran's nuclear program rather than escalating the conflict. "They're all hellish choices," he said. "But for the moment I'd maintain the status quo."
Economic Anxiety
Trump insisted that November's midterm elections aren't shaping his approach to the conflict, which has spurred unease across the global economy. He defended his pattern of threats and pullbacks, saying he's showing patience "out of a consideration for Iranian life." When asked how Americans view his repeated threats followed by retreats, Trump said, "I want to give them every last chance before decapitation. Hopefully, they'll come to their senses."
Earlier Monday, Trump criticized Iran on social media as "unbelievably duplicitous" after Iran claimed its meetings with Oman focused solely on establishing a temporary route through the Strait of Hormuz. "They ask for a meeting, some would say 'beg,' talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they're not having any discussions," Trump wrote.
Trump said whether "Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking" about preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Why This Matters:
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy toward Iran carries profound consequences for American families already struggling with elevated energy costs and economic instability. Trump's pattern of escalating military threats followed by last-minute retreats creates unpredictability that ripples through global markets, potentially driving up prices at the pump and throughout the economy. With two-thirds of Americans viewing the conflict as not worthwhile and midterm elections approaching, the disconnect between public sentiment and presidential brinkmanship raises fundamental questions about democratic accountability in matters of war and peace. The conflict's impact extends beyond U.S. borders — vulnerable populations in Kuwait and across the region face the prospect of devastating attacks from Iranian-backed militias, while the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global energy supplies that millions depend on. Whether diplomacy can succeed after months of military strikes and inflammatory rhetoric remains uncertain, but the human and economic costs of continued escalation are already clear.