President Donald Trump said the war between the United States and Iran was “very close” to an end as hostilities eased under a two-week ceasefire agreement.
“I think it’s almost finished, yes. I consider it very close to being finished,” Trump told FOX Business anchor Maria Bartiromo in an interview that will air Wednesday on “Mornings with Maria.”
The president’s comments come as peace talks between U.S. officials and Iranian negotiators are expected to resume Thursday after weekend talks in Pakistan stalled.
On Monday, Trump instituted a naval blockade of all Iranians ports, marking a further escalation of the conflict after the United States agreed to stop bombing Iran last week.
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View of a residential area hit during U.S.-Israeli military operations in the town of Karaj in Alborz province, several kilometers west of Tehran, Iran, April 3, 2026. The area was struck on March 9. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Although Trump said the war was coming to an end, he also said the United States was not done.
“If I took up the issues now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild this country. And we’re not done,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I think they really want to make a deal.”
vice-president J.D. Vance and senior White House officials were detained negotiations with Iranian officials this weekend in Pakistan regarding Tehran’s nuclear program and enrichment projects.
Trump’s Iran ceasefire flipped within hours amid reported missile and drone attacks
The talks reportedly produced no progress, although Vance said Monday “lots of progress” has been made and that Iran holds the decisive hand over the continuation of the conflict.
President Donald Trump, left, plans to strike Iran’s nuclear sites as tensions in the Middle East escalate. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, has rejected U.S. demands for surrender. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
“The ball is in their court,” Vance told “Special Report.” “You’re asking what happens next, I think the Iranians will determine what happens next.
The war in Iran began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah. Ali Khamenei and effectively disfiguring the Islamic regime.
Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire if Iran opens Strait of Hormuz
President Trump has boasted about the degradation of Iranian leadership and military capabilities, frequently stating that U.S. forces have “decimated” Tehran’s military capabilities.
Thirteen U.S. service members and thousands across the Middle East have been killed in the conflict.
President Donald Trump greets the media after exiting Air Force One at Miami International Airport April 11, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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Trump justified his entry into the Middle East conflict by telling “Mornings with Maria” that it was necessary to disarm Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“I had to turn away because if I didn’t, by now Iran would have nuclear weapons,” Trump said. “And if they had a nuclear weapon, you would call everyone there ‘sir,’ and you don’t want to do that.”
Log in to “Mornings with Maria” on FOX Business Wednesday at 6 a.m. ET to see the full interview with President Trump.