Trump says war 'very close to over' as US shuts down Iran's maritime trade

US President Donald Trump says the war with Iran is "close to over."
pic.twitter.com/VCt6OC9Ata

"You know what, if I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country, and we're not finished. We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly," Trump added.

Earlier, Bartiromo said in a video on Instagram that Trump repeatedly referred to the Iran war in the past tense during their interview, prompting her to ask directly: "Is it over?"

"He said: ‘It’s over,’" Bartiromo said, describing the exchange.

Trade halted amidst fragile optimism

The United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.

Trump said he is not considering extending the current ceasefire with Iran, ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl said Tuesday.

Trump does not think the extension will be necessary, Karl said on the US social media company X’s platform.

"I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead," Trump said. "I really do."

President Trump told me today he isn't thinking about extending the ceasefire. He doesn't think it will be necessary.

"I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead," he said. "I really do."

I asked if the war ends with a deal, or "do you just say, look, we…

According to Karl, Trump indicated that the conflict could conclude either through a negotiated settlement or through military action that eliminates Iran’s capabilities.

"It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild. They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals. They’re gone, no longer with us," Trump was quoted as saying.

Trump made "this extraordinary claim" about his role on the global stage, said Karl.

"If I weren’t president, the world would be torn to pieces," he cited him as saying.

Trump said negotiations between US and Iranian officials could resume in Pakistan in the next two days, and Vice President JD Vance, who led weekend talks that ended without a breakthrough, said he felt positive about where things stood.

Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one senior Iranian source said no date had been set.

Read: Pakistan moves toward quad framework

Despite the optimistic note, more vessels were being turned back under the US blockade on Iranian ports, including a US-sanctioned and Chinese-owned tanker Rich Starry that was making its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Persian Gulf.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command, said American forces had completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea, which he said fuels 90% of Iran's economy.

"In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea," Cooper said in a post on X.

Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: pic.twitter.com/dJxKJcEcmO

Earlier, the US military said it had intercepted eight Iran-linked oil tankers since the start of the blockade on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Return to Islamabad

Trump, speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, said his negotiators are likely to be back, thanks largely to the "great job" Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was doing to moderate the talks.

Later on Tuesday, at an event in Georgia, US Vice President JD Vance said Trump wanted to make a "grand bargain" with Iran, but there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.

"You are not going to solve that problem overnight," he said.

Read More: Trump and Modi stress need to keep Strait of Hormuz open in call

The signs of diplomatic engagement to end the conflict that began on February 28 helped calm oil markets, pressing benchmark prices down for a second day on Wednesday. Asian stocks rose while the safe-haven dollar stabilised after falling for a seventh straight session overnight.

The war has prompted Iran to effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global waterway for crude and gas transport and cut shipments from the Gulf to global buyers, particularly in Asia and Europe.

About 5,000 people have died in the hostilities, including about 3,000 in Iran and 2,000 in Lebanon.

Sticking points

Iran's nuclear ambitions were a key sticking point at the weekend talks. The US had proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran, while Tehran had suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.

Speaking in Seoul, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said the length of any moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment was a political decision, and it was possible Tehran might accept a compromise as a confidence-building act.

Also Read: China's Xi puts forward 4-point proposal on promoting Middle East peace, stability

The US has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran, while Tehran has demanded that international sanctions against it be removed.

One source involved in the negotiations in Pakistan said back-channel talks since the weekend had produced progress in closing that gap, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be put forward at a new round of talks.

However, in a major complication for peace prospects, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Israel and the US say that the campaign is not covered by the ceasefire, while Iran insists it is.

On Tuesday, the UK, Canada, Japan and seven other countries condemned the killings of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and called for "an urgent end to hostilities".

The statement comes after the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers last month. The countries welcomed the ceasefire agreed between the US, Israel and Iran.