Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the United States is close to securing a decisive outcome in its standoff with Iran, expressing confidence that a resolution could come “very shortly” as military and diplomatic efforts continue.
Speaking at a public event in Las Vegas, Trump pointed to what he described as major gains in ongoing US operations, claiming that Iranian military capabilities had been significantly weakened. While calling Iran a “tough” and “smart” adversary, he asserted that its naval strength had been largely dismantled, alleging that a large number of vessels had been destroyed.
The US president also referenced past American military actions in the region, including the killing of Qassem Soleimani, a senior Iranian commander. Trump accused Soleimani of orchestrating attacks that resulted in casualties among US forces, citing injuries sustained by American troops in conflict zones.
His remarks come at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, with ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran alongside concerns over maritime security and regional stability.
Earlier in the day, Trump said it remains uncertain whether an existing ceasefire arrangement with Iran will be extended, but indicated that negotiations are progressing. He suggested that a fresh agreement could be reached soon, possibly over the weekend.
“We’re doing very well… Iran wants to make a deal,” he said, adding that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a central objective for the United States.
Trump signaled that continued progress in talks could make a ceasefire extension unnecessary. However, he cautioned that hostilities could resume if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.
The latest comments underscore a dual-track approach by the US administration — combining military pressure with diplomatic outreach — as efforts continue to reach a deal with Iran.
