Trump Declares U.S.-Iran War “Close to Over” as Peace Talks Prepare to Resume
President Donald Trump has stated that the military conflict between the United States and Iran is nearing its conclusion as hostilities temporarily cool during a two-week ceasefire agreement.
Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on the FOX Business programme «Mornings with Maria», the president expressed optimism about the timeline of the conflict.
«I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,» he remarked in an interview scheduled for broadcast on Wednesday morning.
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Diplomatic efforts are anticipated to resume on Thursday following stalled weekend discussions in Pakistan. Vice President JD Vance and senior White House officials met with Iranian delegates to negotiate terms regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme and uranium enrichment plans.
The ball in Iran’s court
While the meetings did not yield a definitive breakthrough, Vance insisted that substantial progress had been achieved. Appearing on «Special Report» on Monday, the vice president placed the responsibility for the next steps firmly on Tehran’s shoulders. He noted that the ball is very much in their court and that Iranian leadership will ultimately dictate the future of the conflict.
Despite the president’s optimistic outlook and last week’s agreement to halt American bombing campaigns, tensions remain incredibly high. On Monday, Trump ordered a strict naval blockade across all Iranian ports. This move marks a significant intensification of pressure even as the two-week truce, agreed upon conditionally if Iran opened the Strait of Hormuz, remains in effect.
The president stressed that American involvement is not yet complete, warning that it would take Iran two decades to rebuild if U.S. forces withdrew immediately. He added that he believes Tehran is now desperate to secure an agreement.
The war ignited on February 28 following joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel. The initial offensive resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and effectively dismantled the Islamic regime’s power structure. Trump has frequently touted the destruction of Tehran’s military infrastructure, leadership and operational capacities.
The fighting has caused widespread devastation, claimed the lives of 13 American military personnel and resulted in thousands of casualties across the Middle East.
Defending his decision to engage in the Middle Eastern conflict, the president argued it was a necessary measure to strip Iran of its nuclear capabilities. He warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would have forced global submission, making the military diversion an unavoidable step for international security.
