Will US Extend Ceasefire With Iran? Trump Says War Is 'Close To Over'

US President Donald Trump has said that the war with Iran is "close to over," asserting that if he pulled up stakes right now, it would take Tehran 20 years to rebuild the country. Later in the day, Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl he was not thinking about extending the ceasefire with Iran."It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild," Trump told the reporter.

CENTCOM claims all vessels blocked in Hormuz

The president's comments come hours after the US Central Command said it has successfully blocked all traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas in the first 24 hours of Trump's blockade, saying the US was supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. "I think it's close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over," Trump told Fox News in an interview that will be telecast later Wednesday.

The interview for the programme "Mornings with Maria" was recorded on Tuesday. "I think it's - I had to divert because if I didn't do that, right now you'd have Iran with a nuclear weapon. And if they had a nuclear weapon, you'd be calling everyone over there 'sir,' and you don't want to do that," Trump said.

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Failed Islamabad Talks

The US and Iran failed to reach an agreement following historic marathon talks in Islamabad over the weekend to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict that started on February 28.

A US media report said on Tuesday that Trump said that a second round of talks with Iran could be held in Islamabad "over the next two days." "You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there," Trump told The New York Post.

ALSO READ: Trump Answers Iran's Hormuz Blockade With US Blockade: What Could Go Wrong When Ceasefire Ends? Explained

Trump attributed the possibility of a second round of talks to the "great job" done by Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. "It's more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job," the US President said.

Who will lead the delegation in the second round of talks in Islamabad?

He did not say whether Vice President J D Vance would continue to lead the negotiating team, which included White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "I've been saying they can't have nuclear weapons. So I don't like the 20 years," Trump said when asked about suggestions that a moratorium might encourage Iran to make an agreement. "I don't want them (Iran) to feel like they have a win," the US President said.

(With inputs from agency)

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