Trump Says "We Don't Need a Deal With Iran," Directs Vance to Focus on Domestic Anti-Fraud Efforts

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was directing Vice President JD Vance to focus solely on domestic anti-fraud efforts and not on negotiations with Tehran.

"We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The statement followed his defence of the war against Iran on Wednesday at a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington. "The bravery and skill of our amazing American warriors has absolutely been incredible," he said. "When this conflict is over, and it will be soon, the entire world will be a much safer and better place, more peaceful place, and a place without the kind of danger that we had to suffer."

The war, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has so far killed 23 US service members and wounded several hundred more, according to the latest Pentagon figures. Trump said the conflict was started not by Washington but by Tehran, which he said has been "waging war on America since 1979." He stressed that US forces were acting to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

The 80-year-old president attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In his speech, he praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was present, saying he had "done a fantastic job." On Tuesday, Republicans in the House of Representatives blocked an effort, launched by an outgoing Republican lawmaker, to impeach Hegseth for allegedly waging war without congressional authorisation and abusing his powers.

Hegseth was involved in a controversy at the ceremony. An Army sentinel guarding the Tomb reprimanded a small group that included Hegseth, his wife and several aides after some of them laughed while posing for a photo in front of the site. "All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times," the sentinel called out, halting his patrol to face the group. Hegseth turned to look at the guard.

Trump also mentioned the 250-foot triumphal arch he hopes to build just outside the cemetery, saying it would be dedicated "soon." On Tuesday, the family of John F. Kennedy asked a court to block its construction, arguing that the structure would obstruct views and cast shadows over the gravesites of the late president and other Kennedy relatives. The project also faces lawsuits from a group of veterans, the city of Washington and the state of Virginia.