Donald Trump signaled a sharp shift in tone on the Iran conflict, indicating that the U.S.-Israel war with Iran is effectively over while simultaneously pushing for a rapid restart of nuclear negotiations.
"I think it's close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over," Trump said in an interview with Maria Bartiromo that will air Wednesday on Fox Business' Mornings with Maria. The remarks reinforce earlier signals that the conflict is winding down, even as the administration maintains pressure on Tehran.
At the same time, Trump said Tuesday that U.S.-Iran talks could resume "over the next two days," most likely in Pakistan. Speaking to the New York Post, he urged reporters to remain in Islamabad, suggesting momentum is building toward a second round of negotiations after the initial talks collapsed over disagreements on Iran's nuclear enrichment program.
The renewed diplomatic push comes alongside continued military pressure. U.S. Central Command confirmed that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas has so far been effective, with no vessels breaching restricted zones in the first 24 hours and multiple commercial ships turning back. Trump has also emphasized efforts to choke off Iran's oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz as leverage to force concessions.
Despite openness to talks, Trump drew a hard line on nuclear policy. He rejected a proposal—reportedly put forward by Vice President JD Vance—that would allow Iran to suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years rather than permanently dismantle its program.
"I've been saying they can't have nuclear weapons, so I don't like the 20 years," Trump said, dismissing the idea that a temporary moratorium could help secure a deal. "I don't want them to feel like they have a win."
He did not confirm whether Vance will continue to lead the negotiating team, which has included White House envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
Trump also suggested that Asim Munir could play a role in facilitating the talks, praising the Pakistani military leader and citing his involvement in de-escalating a prior regional conflict.
While Trump last week announced a temporary pause in the now weeks-long war, he continues to frame negotiations as a pressure-driven outcome. He reiterated that Iran's refusal to commit to never developing nuclear weapons was the key reason the first round of talks failed.
"We agreed to a lot of things, but they didn't agree to that," Trump said. "I think they will agree to it. I'm almost sure of it. In fact, I am sure of it."
Adding support to the administration's stance, Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned that even a 20-year suspension would pose serious verification risks, arguing that only full and permanent nuclear disarmament can eliminate the threat of Iran rebuilding its weapons capability.