Iran war should be ending 'pretty soon', claims Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said at an event in Las Vegas that the war in Iran is going “swimmingly” and “should be ending pretty soon,” even as Washington hinted at both, progress toward a deal and readiness to escalate militarily.

Trump on Thursday said Washington and Tehran were “very close” to a peace agreement and claimed Iran had agreed to hand over its enriched uranium — a central sticking point in negotiations. “There’s a very good chance we’re going to make a deal,” he told reporters.

“They’ve agreed to give us back the nuclear dust,” he said, using his label for the enriched uranium stockpile that Washington says could be used for nuclear weapons. Trump has offered no details about any transfer, and Iran has given no public indication it would surrender its stockpile.


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The United States has simultaneously threatened to resume airstrikes and maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports if Tehran refuses to accept a deal to end the conflict that began on February 28.

Ceasefire signals amid continued tensions

On the regional front, a 10-day ceasefire came into effect between Israel and Lebanon, with Trump saying he expected both countries’ leaders at the White House within “four or five days.” Hezbollah has not formally recognised the truce, though a senior figure indicated it would respect it if Israeli attacks stopped.

However, Israel’s military said it struck Hezbollah rocket launchers after fire from Lebanon shortly before the ceasefire was due to begin. Both countries’ prime ministers nonetheless welcomed the truce, which followed a separate US-Iran pause in hostilities.

Diplomatic efforts are also continuing elsewhere. Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir met Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf after an initial round of talks ended without a deal. Iran’s UN ambassador later said Tehran was “cautiously optimistic” about negotiations and hoped for a “meaningful outcome.”

Nuclear red lines and rising pressure

Trump has insisted any agreement must permanently block Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, though his earlier claim that Tehran was rushing to build an atomic bomb has not been supported by the UN nuclear watchdog. Washington is reportedly seeking a 20-year halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran has proposed a five-year suspension — an offer rejected by US officials.

Iran maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful and said its right to enrich uranium is “indisputable,” though the level of enrichment is “negotiable.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned: “if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.” The US has already intensified pressure, with sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector and a naval blockade that officials say has halted maritime trade.

Also read: Trump says Israel, Lebanon agreed to 10-day ceasefire

Tensions have also rattled global markets, with disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global oil — pushing Brent crude prices higher.

Iran has responded with its own warnings. A senior military adviser cautioned that Tehran could target US ships if Washington attempts to “police” the strait, while another commander said Iranian forces would block trade routes across the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and Red Sea if the blockade continues.

Despite Trump’s optimism, the conflict remains volatile, with diplomacy, military threats and fragile ceasefires unfolding simultaneously across multiple fronts.