Trump Declares ‘We Win Regardless’ as Iran Talks Extend

President Donald Trump declared Saturday that the United States “wins, regardless what happens” as historic peace talks with Iran stretched past nine hours in Islamabad, simultaneously dismissing negotiation importance while asserting unilateral Hormuz clearance authority.
“We win, regardless. Maybe they will make a deal, maybe they won’t. It doesn’t matter,” Trump stated, adding, “Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me.” The remarks contrasted with Vice President JD Vance’s intensive diplomatic engagement and Pakistani mediation efforts, framing outcomes as predetermined American victory regardless of diplomatic results.
Trump described “big, beautiful tankers” sailing to U.S. ports for oil and gas loading, emphasizing American energy independence even as CENTCOM destroyers conducted mine clearance operations to reopen Hormuz for global commerce. The President characterized strait reopening as favor to “other countries in the world that are either afraid, or weak, or cheap,” despite American vessels not requiring the waterway.
The President acknowledged Iranian mine threats in Hormuz while claiming capability to neutralize them unilaterally. On China, Trump issued direct warning: “If China does that, China is going to have big problems,” referencing potential weapons transfers to Tehran.
When an NBC News reporter challenged Trump’s assertion that Iran was listening to Hormuz threats, citing continued blockage, Trump dismissed the network as “fake news” and rejected the premise. “You don’t know anything. Who are you with? NBC? That’s fake news,” he responded before departing for Miami.
The statements create confusing backdrop for Vance’s negotiations, suggesting presidential indifference to outcomes that diplomats are intensively pursuing.