President Donald Trump stated that the U.S.-Iran war is “very close” to ending, despite Washington’s continued pressure on Tehran and the possibility of further negotiations following the unsuccessful weekend talks in Pakistan.
Trump told Fox Business that he believes the conflict is “very close to being over” and said Iran wants “to make a deal very badly.” He also stressed that the U.S. is still engaged in the fight. The president said the operation is still underway, even though there has been a two-week ceasefire and signs that indirect diplomacy could resume.
Trump defended the U.S. action as necessary to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He told Fox Business that he believed the campaign was needed to prevent Tehran from reaching that point.
The diplomatic effort comes as Trump has increased pressure on Iran. He announced a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday after the United States stopped bombing Iran last week.
Trump declared on Truth Social that any Iranian “fast attack ships” that approached the U.S. blockade would face immediate elimination. He also claimed that the U.S. had “completely destroyed” Iran’s navy, resulting in the sinking of 158 ships.
U.S. and Iranian officials met in Islamabad on Sunday for about 21 hours, but they could not reach an agreement. The talks were serious, but Iran did not accept the terms set by the U.S., Vice President JD Vance said. He said Washington has made its final offer and that Tehran will determine what happens next.
Following the Islamabad talks, Iranian officials adopted a more stringent stance. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X that the two sides exchanged many messages during a long day of negotiations covering the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, sanctions relief, and an end to the war. He said progress would depend on whether the other side acts seriously, in good faith, and with respect for Iran’s rights and interests.
Iranian Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, said the American side failed to win Iran’s trust in this round. He said Iran entered the talks with goodwill, but past wars still shaped Tehran’s position.
Pakistan, which helped host the talks, urged both sides to preserve the ceasefire and continue negotiations. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue supporting the talks.
For now, the fighting has eased, but the central disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions, regional security, and maritime pressure remain unresolved.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
