Balance of Power

Iran Takes Its Time on a Response to Trump

The surge in energy costs is a major headache for Trump and American voters are increasingly against the war.

A billboard in Iran depicting the Strait of Hormuz with a caption in Persian reading “Forever in Iran’s Hand.”Source: AFP/Getty Images

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By Paul Wallace

May 7, 2026 at 9:59 AM UTC

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Whether Iran accepts the latest US peace proposal or not, Donald Trump is intent on winding down a conflict that’s proving increasingly problematic for him.