Key Points
- President Trump declared the U.S.-Iran conflict is “very close to being over” in Fox News interview
- Peace negotiations set to continue in Pakistan within the coming days
- Complete naval blockade of Iranian ports now operational
- Current two-week ceasefire agreement extends through April 21
- Brent crude oil trading around $95 per barrel, significantly above pre-conflict prices
President Donald Trump has indicated the U.S.-Iran conflict is approaching its conclusion, despite ongoing military pressure on Iranian maritime commerce. The president’s remarks came during a conversation with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, scheduled for broadcast Wednesday morning.
“I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” Trump said.
The conflict erupted on February 28 following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran. The assault resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and inflicted substantial damage to Iranian military infrastructure and governmental institutions.
Thirteen American military personnel have lost their lives during the conflict. Regional casualties number in the thousands.
The president has consistently stated that U.S. military operations have “decimated” Iranian defense capabilities. Tehran has generally disputed these assertions.
An interim ceasefire agreement is currently active, scheduled to expire on April 21. Initial diplomatic discussions took place in Pakistan over the previous weekend, headed by Vice President JD Vance alongside top White House advisors.
The initial negotiations yielded no concrete agreement. Vance characterized the discussions as producing “a lot of progress” while noting that Iran now controls the pace of advancement.
“The ball is very much in their court,” Vance said.
Subsequent diplomatic sessions are anticipated to recommence Thursday. According to Associated Press reporting, negotiators are addressing three primary issues: Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, access to the Strait of Hormuz, and financial reparations for war damages.
Complete Maritime Blockade Activated
President Trump authorized a comprehensive naval blockade of Iranian ports on Monday. U.S. Central Command verified Tuesday that the operation had reached full implementation.
“U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Central Command said.
Military analysts suggest the blockade serves to intensify negotiating leverage against Tehran before upcoming diplomatic sessions.
Nevertheless, Wall Street Journal reporting indicates more than 20 commercial ships have recently transited the Strait of Hormuz, implying some maritime activity may be continuing through the strategic waterway.
Crude Oil Markets Stay Elevated
Oil markets continue monitoring the situation with heightened attention. Brent crude futures registered $95.10 per barrel Wednesday morning, showing a 0.3% increase. U.S. West Texas Intermediate stood at $91.12, slightly lower.
Both benchmarks remain considerably elevated compared to pre-war pricing levels.
Trump also hinted the U.S. is not fully done with military operations. “If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished,” he said.
He added that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly.”
In a parallel development, Israeli and Lebanese officials conducted their first face-to-face negotiations in multiple decades this week in Washington. Israel has maintained military strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanese territory, potentially complicating the regional ceasefire framework.
