President Trump says Iran talks are moving fast, but also ‘couldn’t care less’ if they collapse

The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is at risk of breaking down after new U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites and Iranian missile fire toward U.S. forces in Kuwait.President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are continuing “at a rapid pace” and revealed he spoke with Israel’s prime minister about Lebanon. Trump said troops heading toward Beirut had been turned back following their conversation.But Trump downplayed the possibility that diplomacy could fail. The president told CNBC he “couldn’t care less” if talks with Iran collapsed.”If they’re over, they’re over,” he said. “Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring.”Overnight, Iran fired missiles toward U.S. forces in Kuwait after the U.S. struck Iranian radar and drone sites. U.S. officials said the Iranian missiles were intercepted, and no American troops were injured.Iranian state media accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with attacks in Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters are located. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the ceasefire “is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” adding, “Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts.”The conflict is also affecting global oil markets. Crude oil prices climbed above $94 per barrel Monday, and ExxonMobil Senior Vice President Neil Chapman warned crude could climb as high as $160 per barrel if inventories keep falling and the conflict continues to strain supplies. Trump also downplayed concerns about oil prices, saying he expected oil to be “dropping like a rock.”

WASHINGTON —

The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is at risk of breaking down after new U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites and Iranian missile fire toward U.S. forces in Kuwait.

President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are continuing “at a rapid pace” and revealed he spoke with Israel’s prime minister about Lebanon. Trump said troops heading toward Beirut had been turned back following their conversation.

But Trump downplayed the possibility that diplomacy could fail. The president told CNBC he “couldn’t care less” if talks with Iran collapsed.

“If they’re over, they’re over,” he said. “Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring.”

Overnight, Iran fired missiles toward U.S. forces in Kuwait after the U.S. struck Iranian radar and drone sites. U.S. officials said the Iranian missiles were intercepted, and no American troops were injured.

Iranian state media accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with attacks in Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters are located. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the ceasefire “is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” adding, “Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts.”

The conflict is also affecting global oil markets. Crude oil prices climbed above $94 per barrel Monday, and ExxonMobil Senior Vice President Neil Chapman warned crude could climb as high as $160 per barrel if inventories keep falling and the conflict continues to strain supplies.

Trump also downplayed concerns about oil prices, saying he expected oil to be “dropping like a rock.”