US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of severe consequences if Tehran targets American officials, saying those responsible "will not exist any longer", while directing Vice President JD Vance to shift his attention away from the conflict and focus on alleged corruption and crime in Democratic-controlled cities and states.
In a phone interview with Salem News Channel on Thursday (local time), Trump was asked how Washington would respond if Iran killed a US official, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
"They will not exist any longer," Trump responded, issuing a stark warning to Tehran.
The remarks came after Bessent reportedly moved from his residence in Washington, DC, to a US military base earlier this week following alleged threats to his life from Iran.
Trump also said he would consider it a defeat if Iran's current leadership remained in power when he leaves office. Asked whether it would amount to a failure if the "Iran crazies" were still ruling the country at the end of his presidency, he replied, "Yes, that would be a defeat."
Addressing the possibility of further military action, Trump said he had "no hesitation" about using force to prevent Iran from threatening US allies and maritime interests.
He also claimed that Washington had complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway, and said the United States was extracting more oil than before the conflict began.
"We control the Gulf in terms of the Hormuz Strait. We control it. Totally control it," Trump said, adding that the Iranian regime was collapsing.
His remarks came as he appeared to signal a shift in Washington's immediate priorities, directing Vance to move away from the Iran war and concentrate on what the president described as a more pressing domestic issue.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump told the vice president to devote his "complete and total attention" to fighting alleged fraud, corruption and crime in Democratic-controlled areas.
"We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" Trump said.
Vance had served as the lead negotiator in efforts to secure a truce in the eight-month-old conflict. However, he has been critical of the war's political and economic consequences, blaming it for the Republicans' sweeping losses in the November 3 midterm elections.
In a lengthy post on X following the losses, Vance questioned whether the political cost of the conflict had been justified.
"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so," he wrote, adding that supporters of the war should make the case that it was a worthwhile price to pay.
The vice president is also considering a possible presidential bid in 2028, with dissatisfaction over Trump's handling of the conflict potentially affecting his political prospects.
Trump's directive to Vance followed a report by The Wall Street Journal that the vice president was weighing another round of direct talks with a senior Iranian official. Vance's office did not respond to a request for comment, while the White House pointed to Trump's statement that he saw no need for negotiations with Tehran.
Despite Trump's claims of control, maritime security concerns persist in the region, with reports of fresh attacks on commercial vessels navigating waters near Iran.
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to near pre-war levels after Iran effectively disrupted traffic through the critical waterway for months. However, international tankers continue to rely on US Navy escorts, while attacks on vessels have increased.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) on Thursday reported that at least two tankers had been struck by projectiles in recent days.
One vessel was hit on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, northwest of Ras al-Khaimah, prompting its crew to evacuate safely. No casualties were reported.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, another tanker was struck by a projectile in the Persian Gulf. Several people were taken ashore for medical assistance, while the remaining crew members were reported safe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had urged his Group of Seven counterparts during talks in Paris to step up efforts to protect shipping from Iranian attacks, but acknowledged that the discussions had made little progress.
Meanwhile, fighting involving a Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has added to maritime security concerns around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Amid the escalating tensions, Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf claimed that Washington had approached Russian President Vladimir Putin to facilitate direct negotiations between the United States and Iran.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Qalibaf said US officials had raised the possibility of Russian mediation during a visit to Moscow and asked Putin to encourage Tehran to engage in direct talks.
"It was the Americans who, during a visit to Moscow, spoke with Mr Putin and asked him to speak with Iran so that, in any case, Iran would agree to speak directly with them," he said.
Qalibaf described Russia as a close strategic partner of Iran and said the two countries maintained strong relations.
He also said Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, had travelled to Russia and briefed Putin on the details of the negotiations, including Tehran's demands conveyed to Washington.
The Iranian parliament speaker said the next move depended on the US response.
"If they are truly telling the truth and are sincere about negotiations, then they should respond and begin the process," Qalibaf said, adding that Iran was equally prepared to continue along the path of war if Washington chose not to negotiate.
The White House did not directly respond to a question on whether the United States had asked Putin to facilitate talks with Tehran.
The competing statements underline the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the conflict, with Trump publicly ruling out the need for a deal even as Iran claims Washington has sought Russian assistance to bring both sides to the negotiating table.