WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post he “will not be rushed” to end the Iran war on its 52nd day — and lashed out at Democrats and Republicans trying to force him to end the conflict.
“How bad is it that when you are in the middle of negotiations and you have got the Iranians in a perfect position, including being militarily defeated, and you have Democrats and some Republicans asking to settle it now?” Trump said in a phone interview.
“As a negotiator — and I am a great negotiator — how bad is it, when you have people from your own country trying to reach a deal?” he fumed.
“They are helping the other side. The other side has nothing, they have no cards, but they are using this to delay. When [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer was in, he was in Afghanistan for so long.”
“I have only been in this for five weeks. I will not be rushed,” he said.
Trump from the onset predicted a rapid conclusion and last week said Iran privately agreed to core US demands that Tehran abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and relinquish an estimated 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium — despite less conciliatory Iranian public statements.
The president last week blockaded Iran’s ports following an unsuccessful first round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan — with a second round expected to start as early as this week.
Trump said one day after the joint US-Israeli attack began on Feb. 28 that he expected the war to last “four weeks or so.”
The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which the White House argues is unconstitutional, says the president must receive congressional approval for conflicts lasting longer than 60 days.
Some of Trump’s Republican allies in Congress say he needs to wrap up the campaign — which over the weekend featured Marines capturing an Iranian tanker that tried to break through the US blockade.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said last week that the “clock is ticking” and that “I hope that we are arriving at an exit strategy here to bring this to a close to preserve our security interests and bring down the cost of gasoline.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said: “I think our members are going to be very interested in what next steps are,” telling reporters an anticipated supplemental funding request “will be an important inflection point if and when the administration submits their request.”
Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly oppose Trump’s Operation Epic Fury.
The War Powers Resolution’s 60-day timeframe allows for an additional 30 days to wrap up hostilities, though enforcement historically has been lax.
Federal judges in prior conflicts refrained from imposing judgements to force presidents to stop fighting, including when a group of congressmen sued to halt then-President Barack Obama’s unauthorized involvement in the Libyan Civil War.
Courts generally decree that war timeframes are a political question and that Congress has an ability to rein in presidents, including by refusing to authorize funding.
‘Heading over now’
Trump told The Post in a separate phone interview on Monday that his negotiating team — including Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and first-son-in-law Jared Kushner — was en route to Islamabad for round two of talks.
“They’re heading over now. They’ll be there tonight, [local time],” he said.
It soon became clear that Vance had not, in fact, left Washington — likely pushing possible talks to Wednesday at the earliest, as Iranian negotiators remained uncommitted to attending.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a statement bemoaning “unconstructive & contradictory signals from American officials” that he said “carry a bitter message” — a likely reference to the ship-boarding.
Trump passed Monday railing against his domestic critics working to force him to stop the war, which polls last week by both Politico and Ipsos found had 38% support among Americans.
“I read the Fake News saying that I am under ‘pressure’ to make a Deal. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly!” Trump wrote on social media.
“Time is not my adversary,” he added.
“We’re in it, and it will be done RIGHT, and we won’t let the Weak and Pathetic Democrats, TRAITORS ALL, who for years have been talking about the Dangers of Iran, and that something has to be done, but now, since I’m the one doing it, belittle the accomplishments of our Military and the Trump Administration.”
