Trump plays down risk of new US strikes on Iran as talks pause

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a resumption of fighting with Iran is "highly unlikely" as long as talks with Tehran move forward, but Iran's foreign minister said the negotiations have stalled after the US midterm elections. For travellers, the practical picture is unchanged in one respect: Iran continues to partially block traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Key facts

• Trump said renewed hostilities are "highly unlikely" so long as talks progress.
• Any decision to resume fighting, he said, depends on whether Iran signs what he called a very strong agreement.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said peace talks have been paused in recent days.
• Iran continues to partially block traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, reducing oil supplies from the Gulf.
• Trump's Republican Party suffered a defeat in Tuesday's vote, which he has said was at least partly due to the war with Iran.

What did Trump say?

Speaking to CNN, Trump said he did not expect to need to order further strikes, while leaving the option open. Asked about the prospect of renewed fighting, he said: "The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary." He added that any decision "depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement."

Trump has threatened in recent weeks to renew strikes on Iran. He also claimed Iran was a "failing nation" facing 301 percent inflation this year, said the United States had hit Iran militarily and that it could "finish them off." He argued that economic pressure on Iran would push its leaders into accepting a peace deal on US terms.

What is happening with the talks?

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television that mediators had stopped travelling for the past few days. He attributed the pause to the shock caused by the US election results, saying it remained to be seen how long it would take to determine how to move forward.

Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran, which he described as highly unpopular, was at least partially responsible for his Republican Party's defeat in Tuesday's vote, which delivered a landslide victory for the Democratic Party.

What is happening at the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran continues to partially block traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, denting oil supplies from the Gulf. That has driven up gasoline prices in the United States, which the source says has contributed to the war's unpopularity.

What this means for travellers

The source describes no changes to visas, entry rules, border crossings or flight routes. The concrete travel-relevant point is the continuing partial blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and its effect on Gulf oil shipments and US fuel prices. Anyone planning travel in the region should keep track of further statements from Trump and from Iran's foreign ministry on whether talks resume.

No date has been set for the talks to restart, and Trump gave no timeline for any decision on further strikes.