US Israel-Iran War Day 47: Trump says conflict ‘close to over’ as diplomacy stirs, Hormuz blockade tightens
US President Donald Trump claimed the conflict was “very close to being over” even as new attacks, a naval blockade and competing global priorities underscored the fragility of the moment.
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War status: ‘So close to over’?
At the beginning of the developments is Washington’s cautiously optimistic attitude, but there are also contradictions.
- US President Donald Trump said in an interview with FOX Business that the war with Iran is “very close to being over.” Mornings with MariaIt will be published on Wednesday.
- Trump’s remarks come as there are signs that US-Iran peace talks may continue towards the end of this week.
- Parallel diplomatic action was also seen with Israel and Lebanon agreeing to open direct negotiations; This suggests attempts to de-escalate tensions on multiple fronts.
- Trump also signaled that talks would resume in Pakistan. New York Post He said a second round “could happen… in the next two days” after earlier discussions failed to reach agreement.
- Pointing to the urgency of the negotiations, he said, “You should actually stay there, because something could happen in the next two days.”
- Pakistani sources pointed to efforts to extend the current two-week ceasefire to “allow additional time” for diplomacy.
Core disagreement: Nuclear tensions remain central
Despite rumors of de-escalation, the underlying trigger for the conflict – the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program – remains unresolved.
- US Vice President JD Vance said Trump offered Tehran a comprehensive agreement: The US will “ensure Iran’s development” if it commits to “not having nuclear weapons”.
- “This is the kind of Trump-style grand bargain that the president puts on the table. Man, we’re going to continue to negotiate and try to make this happen,” Vance said at an event hosted by Turning Point USA in Georgia.
- The US continues to claim that Iran is developing an atomic bomb; Tehran has consistently denied this claim.
Military developments: Blockade, strikes and resistance
Even as diplomacy moves a few steps further, military activities continue in many areas.
- The US military said it stopped six ships from leaving Iranian ports in the first 24 hours after the naval blockade was imposed.
- However, maritime data showed that at least two ships managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite the blockade.
- They were among at least four Iran-bound ships sailing on the route after the blockade came into force at 14:00 GMT on Monday.
- On the other hand, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks targeting 13 towns in northern Israel shortly after the Lebanese-Israeli talks started in Washington.
Israel-Lebanon road: Direct talks started
A significant diplomatic opening has emerged between Israel and Lebanon.
- Both sides agreed to hold direct negotiations following what the US State Department described as “productive discussions” in Washington.
- The talks, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lasted more than two hours.
- “All parties agreed to initiate direct negotiations at a mutually agreed upon time and place,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Global diplomacy: China and Russia step in
Major global powers are also intervening behind the scenes to prevent tensions from escalating further.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing on Wednesday.
- China and Russia, both close strategic partners, have vowed to coordinate efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.
- Foreign ministers had previously agreed to work together to stabilize the region.
Economic pressure: Sanctions and global slowdown
The economic consequences of the war are intensifying, affecting both Iran and the wider region.
- The US Treasury Department said it will not renew a temporary sanctions relief measure that allows limited sales of Iranian oil.
- “The short-term authorization will expire in a few days and will not be renewed,” it said, reaffirming the policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran.
- The International Monetary Fund reduced its 2026 growth forecast for the Middle East and North Africa to 1.1 percent from the previous forecast of 3.9 percent.
- Iran, Iraq and Qatar are expected to be particularly affected, with recovery due to energy supply chains returning to normal.
Humanitarian and geopolitical spillovers
War reshapes global priorities and humanitarian responses beyond the battlefield.
- The Red Cross and Red Crescent confirmed that a shipment of medical supplies entered Iran on Sunday for the first time since the start of the war.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the United States for shifting its focus away from Ukraine due to the Iran conflict.
- He said US negotiators “have no time for Ukraine” and are “constantly in talks with Iran.”
- “If the United States does not put pressure on Putin… and only engages in a gentle dialogue with the Russians, then they will no longer be afraid,” Zelensky warned.
Political tensions between Allies
The war also exposed cracks within Western alliances.
- Trump publicly criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her handling of the conflict.
- “I was shocked at him. I thought he was brave, but I was wrong,” he said Corriere della Sera.
As the war enters its seventh week, a complex picture is emerging: cautious diplomatic signals, sustained military pressure, economic tension and widening geopolitical ramifications.
While Trump’s claim that the conflict is “very close to over” suggests optimism, developments on the ground, from ongoing strikes to tightening sanctions, suggest that any solution remains uncertain and depends on delicate ongoing negotiations.
