Trump confirms Iran contact, warns conflict ends 'one way or the other'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
US President Donald Trump confirmed on 29 September that members of his team had spoken to Iran that day, but offered no indication of progress toward ending the ongoing conflict. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he expected the confrontation to conclude quickly — 'one way or the other' — without providing a timetable, terms, or details of the contact.
What Trump Said at the White House
When asked by reporters whether his team had been in touch with Iran, Trump replied simply, 'Yeah, they have.' A follow-up question referencing mediators drew the same brief confirmation: 'Yeah.' He did not identify the individuals involved, specify the channel of communication, or describe what was discussed.
Pressed on whether any movement had occurred in the talks, Trump was unequivocal about his expectations: 'No, we're going to win. As far as I'm concerned, it's going to be one way or the other. It's going to be — it's going to go pretty quickly.'
His remarks confirmed that contact had taken place on Monday by his own account. They did not, however, establish that US and Iranian officials had met directly or reached any new understanding.
Fuel Prices, Inflation, and the War
The questions arose during a White House event focused on a proposed steel investment in Iowa. A reporter asked whether truckers and drivers should brace for elevated fuel costs in the coming weeks. Trump declined to offer a price forecast, instead tying any decline in fuel prices to the resolution of the conflict.
'Gas is going to go way down,' he said. Trump also predicted that inflation would disappear once the conflict ended, though he supplied neither an estimate of the price change nor a date for the end of hostilities.
Iran Nuclear Weapons and Britain Arrests
Trump also made a categorical statement on Iran's nuclear ambitions: 'Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,' he said, without elaborating on the mechanism or timeline for ensuring that outcome.
Separately, when asked about five suspects whom a reporter said had been arrested in Britain and released on bail, Trump acknowledged an Iranian connection was possible — 'Might be' — but declined to elaborate. 'I'd rather not,' he said when pressed.
What Remains Unclear
Trump's confirmation of contact stops well short of a diplomatic breakthrough. He offered no terms for a potential agreement, no named intermediaries, and no indication of whether direct US-Iran talks were underway or imminent. Notably, this comes amid broader international pressure to de-escalate, with the conflict's impact on global energy markets already a concern for consumers and businesses alike. How quickly 'pretty quickly' translates into a resolution — or an escalation — remains the central unanswered question.