United States President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, that he has "no time schedule" for when he expects Iran to return to the negotiating table to end the conflict the US began months ago. When asked how much time he was giving Iran to return to talks, Trump reiterated, "I have no time schedule at all."

Trump claimed, "We are winning very big," adding that Iran is facing "massive inflation," a collapsing economy, and harsh treatment of its people, including the killing of many protesters.

Earlier that week, on Monday, the US announced enhanced sanctions on Iran and 60 entities in various countries doing business with the country. Officials described the move as an "economic D-Day," and the administration dubbed it "Operation Economic Outcast."

Analysts, including Trita Parsi, head of the Washington, DC-based Quincy Institute, told Al Jazeera that Tehran has proven more resilient than Washington expected. Parsi said the new sanctions will likely be impactful and painful for the Iranian people but cautioned that "translating that pain into a shift in their policy is a completely different thing."

The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, was initially downplayed by Trump, who predicted it would be over in "four to six" weeks.

Sources