Trump Says US Near End of Iran Conflict, Claims Direct Talks

President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the United States is "hopefully toward the end" of its war with Iran and that Tehran wants to make a deal. He added that he had spoken directly with Iranian officials, a claim that has not been corroborated by Tehran.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, rejected the notion of talks, stating that no negotiations will occur until Iran’s conditions are satisfied. Former Iranian diplomat Abbas Khameyar also dismissed Trump’s assertion, saying there has been no new diplomatic effort beyond existing channels.

The latest diplomatic activity includes a telephone conversation between Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan’s army chief, as reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency. Araghchi, who was in Beijing at the time, said the discussion focused on regional developments and the desire for calm and peaceful relations. Chinese officials have called for restraint and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict has expanded to Yemen, where Houthi forces have intensified attacks on regional shipping, contributing to higher global oil prices that have recently exceeded $100 per barrel. U.S. officials met Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, where the group pledged not to target American or Israeli vessels, though it continued to threaten Saudi shipping.

Efforts to revive a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding that would have opened a 60-day peace window have stalled, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. Analysts note that China’s growing diplomatic role could influence future negotiations.