US President Donald Trump has ordered administration officials to cease all diplomatic negotiations with Iran as part of a tactical change in American foreign policy.
The United States has informed its international allies that it will no longer seek to crush the Iranian government, but instead plans to choke the regime gradually, according to a report by news network CNN citing an American official.
Trump instructed his negotiating team to halt all interactions with officials in Tehran after growing dissatisfied with Iran's unwillingness to comply with his demands.
The US president intends to wait until Iranian leaders publicly declare their readiness to conclude the specific diplomatic agreement he desires before any negotiations can resume.
Shift in Washington diplomatic strategy
The diplomatic freeze represents a major shift in how Washington approaches relations with Tehran. The two nations have not maintained formal diplomatic relations for decades, with interactions frequently defined by heavy economic sanctions, regional security conflict, and disputes over nuclear enrichment.
CNN, the American cable news network that first reported the development, noted that Washington communicated the new strategic direction to its international partners prior to breaking off direct dialogue with Tehran.
Prior to the decision by the Trump administration, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf launched a harsh public criticism of key cabinet members overseeing American economic and defense policy.
Tensions follow criticism of US officials
Ghalibaf specifically targeted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing the cabinet officials as a team of clowns.
As Treasury Secretary, Bessent is responsible for enforcing economic sanctions and managing government revenue. Hegseth leads the Department of Defense from the Pentagon, overseeing the United States military.
Ghalibaf serves as speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the parliamentary body of Iran, where he has long been a prominent political figure in Tehran.
With Washington officially halting contact, future diplomatic engagements between the US and Iran remain suspended until Iranian leaders express readiness to meet the negotiation terms set by the White House.
