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. 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 on 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. 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’.

 

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. 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. HOPES RISE: Hopes rose for renewed talks between the United States and Iran on Wednesday, as the US military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by striking targets across the war-weary region. Regional officials said on Wednesday that the United States and Iran gave an “in principle agreement” to extend the two-week ceasefire, which is due to expire on April 22, to allow for more diplomacy. One of the officials, who is involved in the mediation efforts, said mediators were working on a compromise to the three main disputed points - Iran’s nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for Iran’s wartime damages. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it’s “highly probable” that talks will restart, citing a meeting he had with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.