U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that talks with Iran are ongoing, while also saying U.S. lawmakers are close to resolving a partial government shutdown.
”We have ships heading to Iran right now — biggest and the best. We have talks going on with Iran. We will see how it all works out,” Trump told reporters at The White House.
Asked about a warning from Iran’s supreme leader that a U.S. attack could trigger a regional war, Trump said: “Why wouldn’t he say that? Of course he’s going to say that. But we have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there. Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.”
Trump also said Republican leaders in Congress are close to reaching a deal to reopen the federal government after a partial shutdown took effect shortly after midnight Eastern time.
He said he had spoken with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and believes they are “pretty close to a resolution.”
A funding package has already passed the Senate and now awaits approval in the House of Representatives. If passed, it would move to Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
Trump urged both Republicans and Democrats to back the bill, warning that a prolonged shutdown would be “pointless and destructive” and harmful to the country.
Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine for a week after he raised concerns about extreme cold weather affecting the country.
“I did call up President Putin,” Trump said. “They have a tremendous cold wave. I asked if you wouldn’t shoot for a period of one week, no missiles going into Kyiv or any other towns, and he’s agreed to do so.”
He described the step as limited but meaningful, adding: “It’s something.”
The Kremlin later confirmed that Trump asked Putin to halt strikes until February 1 but did not say whether Moscow had formally agreed.
On foreign relations in the Western Hemisphere, Trump said he expects a positive meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
“Gustavo Petro has been very nice over the last month or two. We will be talking about drugs. We’re going to have a good meeting,” Trump said.
Trump described Cuba as a “failed nation,” saying it is no longer receiving money from Venezuela and now faces the loss of Mexican oil supplies.
“Mexico is going to cease sending them oil. So I’d like to take care of the people that are here from Cuba,” Trump said, adding that many Cubans who fled by boat years ago would like to return or at least visit relatives.
Trump said the United States is “dealing with the Cuban leaders right now,” though a Cuban diplomat said exchanges between Havana and Washington have not yet developed into a formal dialogue.
Trump made the remarks days after declaring Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and warning of possible tariffs on any country that supplies oil to the island.
He also addressed relations with Europe, saying he gets along well with European leaders but warned the continent faces serious immigration and energy challenges.
“You need energy, and you can’t do the windmills. You’re supposed to make money with energy, not lose money,” Trump said, adding that Europe is at a “tipping point.”
Earlier on Monday, Trump announced the creation of a U.S. strategic critical minerals reserve aimed at protecting American manufacturers from supply shortages and reducing dependence on China.
The initiative, dubbed “Project Vault,” will combine $10 billion in Export-Import Bank financing and $2 billion from the private sector, according to Trump.
“The reserve will ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage,” he said, describing it as the first stockpile dedicated specifically to industry.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said additional countries will join the initiative later this week.
Trump said the reserve is part of a broader push to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources for minerals used in defence systems, electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
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