Trump says war ‘can’t go much longer’ – what’s the latest on talks?

Trump is caught in an "escalation trap" in Iran war: Analysis

United States President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he believes the war on Iran is nearing an end, promising that petrol prices will drop when the conflict is over.

Citing an unnamed lawmaker, Iran’s Fars news agency reported that an Iranian parliamentary committee is reviewing a preliminary bill that would bar US, Israeli and other “hostile” vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday, Iran and Oman said they had agreed on coordinates for shipping routes through the strait, whose closure has triggered a global energy crisis. The two are currently engaged in talks to resolve disagreements between the US and Iran over how the strait should be controlled. It is hoped that once these are resolved, broader peace talks between the US and Iran can continue.

Of the war with Iran, he told reporters in the Oval Office: “I think it’s going to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer.”

He added that he is involved in negotiations with Tehran. “I think we’re doing fine,” Trump said.

Iran has denied it is holding direct talks with the US, however, saying it is speaking solely to Oman about control of the Strait of Hormuz .

On Saturday last week, Trump cancelled a planned large-scale military attack on Iran, claiming that Tehran and other countries in the region had asked the US to call off the strikes as a diplomatic breakthrough was close.