President Donald Trump speaks to the media upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, May 20, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
President Donald Trump On Monday, he shrugged off the possible failure of peace negotiations with Iran, telling CNBC: “I honestly don’t care if they’re over.”
“I really don’t care. I don’t care,” Trump told CNBC’s Eamon Javers in a midday phone interview Monday, saying he thought the prolonged discussions were “starting to get very boring.”
Trump was asked about reports that Iranian negotiators would cease communications with the United States and that Tehran would “completely blockade” the Strait of Hormuz, due to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Trump said he was “going to ask” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “what’s going on with Lebanon.” Reuters reported later Monday afternoon that Trump spoke on the phone with Netanyahu.
The president also said he was not worried about oil prices, which soared following Monday’s report by Iranian state media.
“I think oil is going to fall like a rock in the very short term, you know, in the very short term,” Trump said.
But he also insisted that Americans who understand the importance of stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions will not mind rising gas prices in the wake of the war.
“Once you explain that Iran has nuclear weapons, people are willing to pay a little more,” he said.
Trump said prices at the pump would come down “very quickly.” But he has also repeatedly signaled that he is in no rush to restart stalled negotiations with Iran.
“If they’re over, they’re over. If they’re not, you know, I think they took too long. Frankly, I thought they were starting to get very boring,” Trump told CNBC.
This is breaking news. Please check again for updates.
Read more about CNBC’s politics coverage