US President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States was “hopefully toward the end” of its war with Iran, claiming he had spoken directly with Iranian officials as efforts to end the conflict intensify.
Asked by reporters whether he had recently heard from the Iranian side, Trump said he had spoken with them “directly”.
Aljazeera reported on Thursday Trump saying he remained optimistic that the conflict could be brought to an end soon, with negotiations under way towards a settlement.
His remarks came amid growing political pressure in Washington to end US military involvement in the conflict, which began on Feb 28 after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran.
Iran has since carried out a series of retaliatory attacks against US and allied interests across West Asia, further escalating tensions in the region.
Trump has repeatedly said Iran is eager to reach a deal, although Iranian officials have previously denied that direct negotiations with Washington were taking place, saying some discussions had instead been conducted through third parties over regional issues.
Trump’s latest comments suggest diplomatic efforts may be intensifying even as military confrontation and disputes between the two sides continue. - September 17, 2026
