Trump Declares Iran War Nearly Over as Naval Blockade Tightens Pressure on Tehran

US President Donald Trump declared the American-Israeli war against Iran "nearly over" in interviews aired Wednesday, expressing confidence that Tehran wants to reach a deal while simultaneously ruling out extending the current two-week truce and maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports introduced earlier this week. Trump made the remarks in separate conversations with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo and ABC News, with Bartiromo later noting that Trump repeatedly referred to the conflict in the past tense during their exchange. The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, has entered a fragile diplomatic phase following a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire announced on the night of April 7 to 8, though the United States has continued to apply military and economic pressure on Iran even as peace talks remain suspended. A new round of negotiations is expected to resume in Pakistan on Thursday, April 16.

Trump warns Iran faces 20 years of rebuilding Trump's remarks combined optimism about a diplomatic resolution with a pointed warning about the consequences of continued conflict. „I think it's nearly over, yeah. I mean, I consider it very nearly over.” — Donald Trump via Fox Business The president added that if the United States were to walk away from the conflict at this moment, Iran would require two decades to rebuild its infrastructure and military capacity. „If I walked away right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country and we are not finished.” — Donald Trump via Fox Business In his ABC News interview, Trump stated he was not considering an extension of the truce, saying he did not believe it was necessary, and framed the outcome as binary. „It could end one way or the other. I think an agreement would be better, because then they could rebuild.” — Donald Trump via Nasz Dziennik Trump also stated his conviction that Iranian leadership is now "determined to reach a deal," a characterization consistent with reports that Tehran has proposed a five-year suspension of its nuclear program, though the US delegation reportedly judged that period too short, according to the New York Times as cited by AGI.

Vance says truce holds, sets nuclear red line Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the ceasefire remained intact as of Wednesday, telling reporters that the "truce is holding" and expressing confidence that a broader agreement remained achievable. Speaking at a forum organized by the conservative organization Turning Point in Phoenix, Vance outlined the administration's conditions for a diplomatic settlement: Iran must verifiably renounce the development of nuclear weapons. „The United States will help them prosper in the world economy.” — J.D. Vance via AGI Vance also indicated that Washington would be prepared to treat Iran as a "normal country" on economic terms if those conditions were met, signaling that sanctions relief could form part of any eventual deal. The vice president's remarks came hours after Trump's own previews suggesting that direct negotiations with Tehran could resume within two days, a timeline that aligned with the Thursday talks now expected in Pakistan. The US Central Command separately announced that the naval blockade of Iranian ports, introduced on Monday, April 13, had been "fully implemented" within 36 hours of its start, according to a post on X attributed to CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper.

Trump calls NATO a "paper tiger" over Iran stance Alongside his comments on the war's trajectory, Trump renewed his criticism of NATO, calling the alliance a "paper tiger" and accusing it of failing to support the United States during the conflict. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that "NATO was not there for us and will not be in the future," echoing complaints he has repeated over recent weeks and signaling his intention to withdraw the United States from the alliance, according to El País. The tensions reflect a broader fracture within the alliance: several NATO members, including Spain, closed their airspace or denied the use of their bases for American operations against Iran, while multiple member states refused to send naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, where the United States now maintains its blockade. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Trump at the White House on April 8, but the meeting produced no rapprochement, according to El País. The US-Israel military campaign against Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Pakistan subsequently brokered a two-week truce announced on the night of April 7 to 8, with peace talks held in Islamabad over the weekend before being suspended without agreement. The resumption of talks in Pakistan on Thursday will be closely watched as the truce's durability remains uncertain, with the naval blockade representing a significant escalation even during the nominal ceasefire period.

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