Key Points
- President Trump declared the U.S.-Iran conflict is “very close to being over” in Fox News interview
- Diplomatic negotiations scheduled to continue in Pakistan this week
- Complete naval embargo now operational across all Iranian maritime ports
- Current 14-day ceasefire agreement extends through April 21
- Brent crude oil trading near $95 per barrel, significantly above pre-conflict prices
President Donald Trump has indicated the military confrontation with Iran is approaching its conclusion, despite ongoing U.S. naval operations restricting Iranian maritime commerce. The president shared these remarks during a Fox Business Network interview with anchor Maria Bartiromo, scheduled for broadcast Wednesday morning.
“I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” Trump stated.
Hostilities commenced February 28 following joint American-Israeli military operations targeting Iran. The offensive resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and inflicted substantial damage to Iranian military infrastructure and governmental institutions.
NEW: President Trump says the war with Iran is "close to over."
Full interview airs on @MorningsMaria on Fox Business at 6 a.m. pic.twitter.com/7YqjbHW3Fy
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 15, 2026
The conflict has claimed the lives of thirteen American military personnel. Regional casualties number in the thousands.
Trump has consistently maintained that American forces have “decimated” Iranian military capacity. Tehran has disputed these characterizations.
A 14-day cessation of hostilities remains active until April 21. Initial diplomatic discussions occurred in Pakistan over the previous weekend, with Vice President JD Vance heading the American delegation alongside senior administration representatives.
Those initial negotiations yielded no concrete agreement. Vance characterized the discussions as productive while noting Iran must now determine the path forward.
“The ball is very much in their court,” Vance remarked.
Subsequent negotiation sessions are anticipated to reconvene Thursday. According to Associated Press sources, mediators are addressing three primary obstacles: Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, Strait of Hormuz access, and financial reparations for war damages.
Complete Naval Embargo Now Operational
Monday saw Trump authorize a comprehensive naval embargo targeting Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command verified Tuesday that the maritime blockade achieved full implementation.
“U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Central Command announced.
Military analysts believe the embargo aims to strengthen America’s negotiating position before upcoming diplomatic sessions.
Nevertheless, Wall Street Journal reporting indicates more than twenty commercial ships have recently transited the Strait of Hormuz, implying some maritime traffic may be resuming through the critical waterway.
Crude Oil Prices Stay Above Pre-War Levels
Oil markets continue monitoring the situation closely. Brent crude futures stood at $95.10 per barrel Wednesday morning, representing a 0.3% daily increase. U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded at $91.12, showing modest decline.
Both benchmarks remain substantially elevated compared to pre-conflict valuations.
Trump suggested American military engagement hasn’t completely concluded. “If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished,” he explained.
The president added that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly.”
In a connected development, Israeli and Lebanese officials conducted their first direct negotiations in decades this week in Washington. Israel maintains ongoing operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanese territory, potentially complicating the broader ceasefire arrangement.
