Trump has a Carter-style Iran problem as the economy drags before the midterms

In Iran, around 10 August 2026, talks with the US on reopening the Strait of Hormuz continued, and Iran said a deal with Oman was 'very close'. CNN wrote that Trump has a 'Carter-style Iran problem' as the economy drags before the midterms, and a US senator said Trump has 'lost' the Iran war. Trump kept the military option open, told US negotiators to demand reparations from Iran, and set a new red line in response to Iran's list of demands for reopening Hormuz.

Iran reshuffled its security team: its supreme leader appointed a former IRGC commander, Mohsen Rezaei, as national security chief. Iran also released an undated video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after months out of public view. Iran said a Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey defence deal shows a 'change in perception' towards the US, and Germany urged Iran to reopen the strait unconditionally.