World

Iran War Is ‘Very Close to Over,’ Trump Says

By Mike Harper · April 16, 2026

The ceasefire expires in a week. The blockade is three days old. And President Trump is saying the war is almost over.

In a Fox Business interview that aired Wednesday, Trump told host Maria Bartiromo that the U.S.-Iran conflict is “very close to over.” “I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over.” He said Iran “wants to make a deal very badly” and argued the country has been so badly damaged militarily that rebuilding would take 20 years. Markets responded — the S&P 500 hit a fresh record high Wednesday, lifted by investor optimism that a deal could be coming.

The ground situation tells a more complicated story. The U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports went fully into effect Monday, with CENTCOM confirming it has “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.” Iran’s military has warned it will shut down all Persian Gulf shipping if the blockade continues. Brent crude is trading around $96 a barrel — roughly 33% above pre-war levels. And a formal second round of negotiations has not yet been scheduled.

Trump told the New York Post separately on Tuesday that talks “could be happening over the next two days” in Islamabad, crediting Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir for facilitating discussions. Pakistan sent its military chief to Tehran on Wednesday as part of ongoing mediation efforts. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it was “highly probable” that a second round of talks would restart.

The sticking point — and it is substantial — remains Iran’s nuclear program. Trump made clear Wednesday he will not accept any deal that leaves Iran with nuclear enrichment capability, rejecting even a reported 20-year moratorium proposal that Vance brought to Islamabad. “I’ve been saying they can’t have nuclear weapons. So I don’t like the 20 years.” Iran has not accepted the demand for permanent dismantlement.

The ceasefire expires April 22. Additional U.S. forces are heading to the region — including the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, which is routing around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi-controlled waters. Trump says the war is ending. His military posture suggests he’s also preparing for it not to.