Trump says Iran ‘negotiating on fumes,’ insists that midterm elections won’t impact his war strategy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is asserting that Iran is “negotiating on fumes” and insisting November’s midterm elections won’t make him rush into a deal to end the nearly three-month-old conflict that’s spurred unease across the global economy. Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump expressed confidence that an agreement is near. Over the weekend, he even declared that his administration and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a settlement, but the negotiations were still in flux. The president is looking for a settlement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him a credible argument that Iran’s nuclear capability has been diminished enough to declare victory, winding down a conflict that’s been politically unpopular for Republicans.