Washington DC: US President Donald Trump said the ongoing tensions with Iran are “close to over,” even as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked following an initial round of talks.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump struck an optimistic tone about the situation in West Asia, suggesting that the broader conflict could soon ease despite the lack of a comprehensive agreement.
“I think it’s close to over. I mean, I view it as very close to over,” Trump said.
He also underscored what he described as the United States’ strategic advantage, adding that Iran would struggle to recover if Washington chose to disengage at this stage. “If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country, and we’re not finished, but we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Trump further claimed that Tehran is eager to reach an agreement. “I think they want to make a deal very badly,” he said.
His remarks come amid indications that diplomatic efforts could resume soon. According to CNN, US officials are considering a second round of negotiations with Iran after the first round, held in Islamabad, ended without a breakthrough.
US Vice President JD Vance is expected to again lead the American delegation if talks proceed, with Pakistan’s capital likely to remain the venue.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner — who have been involved in backchannel diplomacy since before the escalation — are also expected to participate, according to sources cited in the report.
The three senior officials have been tasked with exploring a diplomatic pathway to end hostilities and have maintained contact with Iranian representatives and intermediaries following an intensive 21-hour negotiation effort.
However, officials cautioned that discussions remain preliminary. “Future talks are under discussion, but nothing has been scheduled at this time,” a US official said, according to CNN.
While Washington signals openness to renewed engagement, uncertainty continues to surround the timeline and scope of any potential agreement.
