US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the war with Iran could end “pretty soon” and that Iran could not continue much longer. He also said he was involved in negotiations with Tehran and promised petrol prices would fall once the conflict ended.
The comments came as Iran and Oman said they had agreed on coordinates for shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran denies holding direct talks with the United States, saying its discussions are solely with Oman over control of the waterway.
At a glance:
- Iran and Oman agreed on coordinates for shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
- Traffic through the strait fell to 33 vessels from Monday to Thursday, compared with 50 the previous week, according to shipping data cited by Reuters.
- The waterway remains closed to most traffic while the US has reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- A preliminary bill under review by an Iranian parliamentary committee would bar US, Israeli and other “hostile” vessels from transiting the strait.
| Previous week | Monday–Thursday | |
|---|---|---|
| Vessels recorded | 50 | 33 |
What Trump said about the war
Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday night, Trump said he believed the conflict was nearing its end. He said, “I think it’s going to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer,” and added that he believed the United States was doing fine.
Related coverage: Iran and Oman Exchange Proposals on Managing the Strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump previously cancelled a planned large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday last week, saying a diplomatic breakthrough was close after Iran and other regional countries asked him to call off the strikes. This week, he reacted angrily to US media reports that American forces might be running low on weapons in the region.
Why an end to the war is not yet clear
Iranian officials have said they are prepared for a long war, while Trump has repeatedly said the conflict is close to ending. The source describes a pattern in which Trump threatens major action, then withdraws the threat and says an agreement is near.
Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said resolving the Strait of Hormuz would not itself end the US-Iran war. Broader peace talks would still have to restart, and the two sides remain divided over the waterway’s management.
More context: Iran-Oman Talks Show Progress on Strait of Hormuz Shipping.
- Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft said repeated escalations and cancelled attacks could damage confidence in negotiations.
- Alan Eyre of the Middle East Institute said the important talks currently taking place are between Iran and Oman over the strait, rather than direct US-Iran negotiations.
What is being negotiated over Hormuz
Iran and Oman are discussing disagreements over which routes ships should use and how the strait should be controlled. Iran wants to maintain control over shipping in its territorial waters and retain the option of charging fees in the future; the United States says Iran should not control the strait or charge fees.
The strait remains closed to most traffic while the US blockade on Iranian ports is in place. Before the war began, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the waterway, making its reopening the most urgent issue in the talks.
- A memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 committed Iran to reopening the strait freely to all shipping for at least 60 days, but vague wording led to disputes over routes.
- Fars news agency, citing an unnamed lawmaker, reported that an Iranian parliamentary committee is reviewing a preliminary bill to bar US, Israeli and other “hostile” vessels from transiting the strait.
Iran’s response to Trump
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, accused Trump of conducting “theater diplomacy” in a post on X. He criticised what he called bullying, broken promises and fake news, and urged the United States to acknowledge the facts and fulfil its commitments.
Also read: Iran Attacks Tankers in Hormuz Strait as US War Efforts Stall.
The dispute comes as shipping through the strait has fallen and the two countries remain at odds over direct negotiations. Iran says it is speaking only with Oman, while Trump says he is negotiating with Tehran.
Questions readers ask
Has the Strait of Hormuz reopened?
No. The source says it remains closed to most traffic while the United States has reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Would an agreement over Hormuz end the war?
Not necessarily. The source says broader US-Iran peace talks would still need to restart after any resolution over the waterway.
Are Iran and the United States holding direct talks?
Trump says he is involved in negotiations with Tehran, but Iran denies direct talks and says it is speaking solely with Oman about control of the strait.
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