Trump says war in Iran should end ‘pretty soon’ as pressure campaign continues

US President Donald Trump said Thursday night that the war in Iran should be coming to an end "pretty soon," pairing that assessment with a claim that Tehran is increasingly ready to accept key American demands.

Speaking at an event in Las Vegas, Trump said the US pressure campaign was producing results and described the military and strategic posture against Iran in emphatic terms.

"We're doing very well, and I will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly, we can do whatever we want, and it should be ending pretty soon," Trump said.

He also praised the US military response and said Washington had no choice but to act to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"It was perfect. It’s perfect. It was the power we have," Trump said. "We had the most powerful military anywhere in the world."

"I did not want to strike Iran, but we had to because we can't let them have a nuclear weapon. Can't let them have a nuclear weapon."

Trump signals confidence in pressure campaign

Earlier Thursday, Trump told reporters that Iran was close to yielding to core US demands. He pointed to the naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz as a major source of leverage and said the effort was holding firm.

Trump described the blockade as "amazing" and said it "is holding up very strong, and I think we're making a lot of progress."

The president also said he does not believe any ceasefire extension is necessary at this stage, arguing that Tehran is now more prepared to compromise than it was just weeks ago.

"Iran wants to make a deal and we're dealing very nicely with them," Trump said. "They're willing to do things today that they weren't willing to do two months ago."

Possible new talks this weekend

Trump said the two sides will most likely meet over the weekend, suggesting diplomacy remains active even as military pressure continues.

American and Iranian delegations met in Pakistan last weekend, but those talks ended without an agreement.

Vice President JD Vance, who led the US delegation in those discussions, said Tuesday that despite deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran, he remains optimistic about the chances of reaching a deal.

According to CNN, Vance is expected to lead a possible second round of talks with Iranian officials if negotiations advance to another face-to-face meeting.

Key developments

• Trump said the war in Iran should end "pretty soon."
• He said US military action was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
• Trump claimed Iran is nearing acceptance of key US demands.
• He said another round of talks could take place over the weekend.
• Previous talks in Pakistan did not produce a deal.

The latest comments reflect a dual-track US approach: sustained military and strategic pressure on Iran, alongside continued efforts to secure a negotiated outcome.