Iran shrugs off Trump's attack threats, says diplomacy ongoing
Iran says indirect negotiations with the U.S. continue but rules out bending to Trump's demands, even if he orders new strikes.
Key points
- Brent crude traded near $115 a barrel early Monday after rising late last week on supply worries tied to wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
- President Trump told Fox News he has not decided whether to resume U.S. strikes on Iran after next Tuesday's midterm elections.
- Additional U.S. forces, including a third aircraft carrier group, have been sent to the region even as American diplomatic staffing and the overall military footprint were being reduced.
Brent crude oil was trading at about $115 a barrel early Monday, following a late-week surge driven by concerns over global supply amid the continuing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. The rise comes as the northern hemisphere heads into winter, a period of higher gas demand.
Speculation about a possible resumption of U.S. strikes on Iran has grown after President Trump said he had not yet decided how to proceed. Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he faced a choice between finishing the job, which he described as easy, and making a deal.
Military moves and reduced staffing
Additional U.S. forces, including a third aircraft carrier group, have been sent to the region. At the same time, U.S. diplomatic staffing levels have been reduced.
Sources told CBS News last week that the overall American military footprint in the Middle East was also being quietly reduced. The report was attributed to CBS and AFP.
I have a decision to make: Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal? That's all.
— President Trump
