US President Donald Trump has said negotiations between the United States and Iran could resume within days, raising fresh hopes of de-escalation in a region gripped by heightened tensions.
Speaking in a preview of an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that talks with Iran could restart in Pakistan “in the next two days”, although Iranian authorities have yet to publicly respond to the claim.
The US president also expressed optimism about the broader conflict, saying the war is “very close to over”, even as military activities continue across multiple fronts in the Middle East.
US Vice-President JD Vance reinforced the administration’s diplomatic posture, revealing that Trump is seeking a sweeping agreement with Tehran. He said the president wants to secure a “grand bargain” with Iran aimed at resolving long-standing disputes.
However, Iran’s president pushed back strongly against Washington’s approach, warning that any attempts to force the country into submission would fail. He said efforts to make Iran “surrender” are “destined to fail”, underlining the deep divisions that remain between both sides.
Meanwhile, military pressure on Iran appears to be intensifying. The commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports has “completely halted economic trade”.
Cooper added that while some vessels attempted to navigate the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, enforcement actions remain firm. “Six were turned around,” he said, noting that tracking data showed at least one ship making a U-turn in the Gulf of Oman.
Beyond US-Iran tensions, the wider region remains volatile. Israel has continued strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon following talks with the Lebanese government held in the United States earlier this week.
Hezbollah has responded with sustained attacks, launching around 30 strikes towards northern Israel, according to an Israeli official quoted by AFP.
The developments highlight the fragile balance between diplomacy and military escalation, as Washington pushes for negotiations while maintaining pressure on Tehran and its regional allies.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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