Piers Franco Ordonez

He's come back so many times before, after the 2020 election, after the January 6 riots.

And frankly, a lot could change in the next few months, especially if the war in Iran ends and gas prices go down.

I mean, Trump could be looking better politically if the economy improves.

And Piers Franco-Ordonez reporting.

The president said Pakistan, which is mediating the talks, asked him to hold off on more attacks, but that the U.S.

would stick around and that its naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz would also continue.

The Iranians called the U.S.

blockade an act of war and signaled that's why it refused to show up for the latest round of talks.

Control of the Strait has become a point of leverage in the war.

Iran has maintained a tight grip on the strait for weeks, sending oil prices skyrocketing.

The U.S.

has tried everything to get the critical waterway reopened, from repeated aggressive threats against Iran to now launching its own blockade against ships heading into or out of Iranian ports.

Franco, Ordonez, and PR News, the White House.

President Trump has raged against the alliance for declining to take part in his attack on Iran or helping secure the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that they failed his test to see if they truly backed the U.S.

After the meeting, Trump exclaimed on social media that, quote, NATO wasn't there when we needed them and they won't be there if we need them again.

but he did not say he was pulling the U.S.

out of the alliance.

Trump has long had a rocky relationship with NATO, but this war has really wrecked what foundation was left.

Trump's anger only intensified, calling NATO a paper tiger and attacking some leaders by name, such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he's no Winston Churchill.

Franco, Ordonez, NPR News.