Peace talks at a stalemate as war with Iran reaches 100 days

US President Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to keeping American forces in the Middle East until the war with Iran reaches a conclusion. In an interview with NBC, Trump described Iran’s new supreme leader as 'more rational' than his predecessor, though he emphasized that US troops will not withdraw until the conflict is resolved. He also stated he is 'open' to sending US forces to retrieve Iran’s nuclear stockpile, either through a negotiated agreement or by destroying it militarily if talks fail. Trump clarified that he never promised to keep the US out of new military conflicts, defending his approach in Iran and Venezuela as shorter and more decisive than past engagements like Iraq and Vietnam. He warned that allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon would pose an existential threat, stating that the US would act 'very harshly' to prevent it. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson attributed the stalemate in negotiations to Washington’s inconsistent positions, while recent clashes have strained the fragile ceasefire. The US military reported shooting down two Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz, following a day of strikes that included US attacks on Iranian radar sites and Iranian missile and drone strikes on Gulf neighbors. The conflict has now reached its 100th day, marked by escalating violence and diplomatic tensions. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth downplayed concerns about the ceasefire’s stability, framing it as a temporary measure to facilitate negotiations for a lasting peace. Meanwhile, Trump insisted that any resolution would involve the destruction of Iran’s nuclear stockpile, either through joint efforts or unilateral military action.