In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “I think it’s close to over… very close to being over.”
His remarks come as US and Iranian officials are expected to resume negotiations on Thursday (April 16) after weekend talks in Pakistan failed to deliver a breakthrough.
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Despite the optimism, Trump signalled that US operations are not over. Earlier this week, Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, marking a renewed escalation shortly after agreeing to halt bombing operations.
“If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished,” Trump said, adding that Tehran appears eager to strike a deal.
US Vice President JD Vance and senior White House officials led talks over Iran’s nuclear programme and enrichment plans. While no agreement was reached, Vance said there had been “a lot of progress,” placing the onus on Iran for the next steps.
“The ball is very much in their court,” Vance said in a separate interview.
The conflict began on February 28 after coordinated strikes by US and Israeli forces targeted Iran, significantly weakening its leadership and military infrastructure.
Trump has repeatedly defended the military action, arguing it was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“If I didn’t act, Iran would have a nuclear weapon right now,” he said in the interview.
