SNEAK PEEK: President Donald Trump gives anchor Maria Bartiromo her assessment of the Iran conflict situation and more on ‘Mornings with Maria.’
President Donald Trump has said the US-Iran war is “very close” to an end as hostilities ease amid a two-week ceasefire.
“I think it’s close, yes. I consider it very close to the end,” Trump told FOX Business anchor Maria Bartiromo in an interview that will air on “Mornings with Maria” on Wednesday.
The president’s comments come as peace talks between US officials and Iranian negotiators are reportedly expected to resume on Thursday following the recovery of weekend talks in Pakistan.
On Monday, Trump suspended the embargo on all Iranian ports, marking a new escalation in the conflict after the US agreed to stop bombing Iran last week.
FORMER SECRETARY WARNS OF IRAN CONFLICT AND ‘BREAK OF TRUST’ IN POSSIBLE US-CHINA REUNION
A view of a residential area affected during the United States-Israel military operation in the city of Karaj in Alborz province, a few kilometers west of Tehran, Iran, on April 3, 2026. The area was hit on March 9. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Even though Trump said the war is coming to an end, he also said that the US is not finished yet.
“If I raised my hand right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not done yet,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly.”
Vice President JD Vance and senior White House officials held talks with Iranian officials over the weekend in Pakistan about Tehran’s nuclear and enrichment programs.
TRUMP’S IRAN CEASEFIRE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN HOURS BETWEEN REPORTED MISSILE, DRONE ATTACKS
The talks have reportedly been unsuccessful, although Vance said on Monday there had been “a lot of progress” and that Iran had a hand in deciding the next step in the conflict.
President Donald Trump, left, looks at Iranian nuclear sites being struck as tensions in the Middle East escalate. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, has rejected US demands for a ceasefire. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The ball is too full in their court,” Vance told “Special Report.” “You ask what happens next, I think the Iranians will decide what happens next.”
The war in Iran began on Feb. 28 when the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, killing the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and damaging the Islamic state.
TRUMP AGREES TO CALL FOR FIRE FOR 2 WEEKS IF IRAN OPENS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
President Trump has taken pride in the destruction of Iran’s leadership and military power, often declaring that US forces have “destroyed” Tehran’s military capabilities.
Thirteen American service members and thousands across the Middle East have been killed in the conflict.
President Donald Trump waves to the media after departing Air Force One at Miami International Airport on April 11, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Photos by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Trump justified his involvement in the Middle East conflict, saying on “Mornings with Maria” that it was necessary to reduce Iran’s nuclear power.
“I had to deviate because if I didn’t, right now, Iran would have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “And if they had a nuclear weapon, you’d be calling everybody there ‘sir,’ and you don’t want to do that.”
Tune in to “Mornings with Maria” on FOX Business Wednesdays at 6 a.m. ET to see the full interview with President Trump.
