Highlights:
- Trump says the Iran war is “very close to being over”
- US claims full blockade of Iranian ports within 24 hours
- Talks in Islamabad failed to produce a deal
- Second round of negotiations may happen soon
- Trump rejects any deal that appears as a “win” for Iran
President Donald Trump said the war with Iran is “close to over,” claiming that if the US withdrew now, it would take Tehran 20 years to rebuild.
His comments came hours after US Central Command said it had successfully blocked all traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas within the first 24 hours of Trump’s blockade, stating the move supported freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think it's close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” Trump told Fox News in an interview set to air later Wednesday. The interview for “Mornings with Maria” was recorded Tuesday (14).
“I think it's, I had to divert because if I didn't do that, right now you'd have Iran with a nuclear weapon. And if they had a nuclear weapon, you'd be calling everyone over there ‘sir,' and you don't want to do that,” Trump said.
The US and Iran failed to reach an agreement after marathon talks in Islamabad over the weekend aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict that began on February 28.
A US media report said Tuesday that Trump suggested a second round of talks with Iran could happen in Islamabad “over the next two days.”
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there,” Trump told The New York Post.
Trump said the possibility of more talks was due to the “great job” done by Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
“It's more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job,” he said.
He did not say whether Vice President J D Vance would continue leading the negotiating team, which includes White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
“I've been saying they can't have nuclear weapons. So I don't like the 20 years,” Trump said when asked about a possible moratorium.
“I don't want them (Iran) to feel like they have a win,” the US President said.
