WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said he expects the war between the United States and Iran to end “very soon”, while claiming that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is now fully open and maritime traffic is beginning to resume.
By AALIMI NATION | International Affairs Desk
In an interview, Trump said American forces had removed what he described as all mines from the waterway and were allowing ships to pass through.
“I think the war with Iran will end soon,” Trump said, arguing that the reopening of the strait was an important sign of progress.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway can have significant consequences for global energy markets.
Trump said the combination of US military and economic pressure was producing results and would lead to what he described as a major victory for Washington.
He also reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was the central objective of the campaign, arguing that Washington had already prevented Tehran from achieving that goal on two occasions.
Trump also addressed reports surrounding Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who, according to the account provided, has remained largely out of public view since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei.
Trump said he believed Mojtaba Khamenei was still alive but had suffered severe injuries.
The president claimed that the Iranian leader had sustained serious injuries to the left side of his body, including his arm and leg.
The remarks come amid continued uncertainty over the condition and whereabouts of Iran's top leadership.
Despite Trump's assertion that the strait is open, the waterway remains at the centre of the wider dispute between Washington and Tehran.
The conflict has disrupted commercial shipping and affected energy markets, with the United States demanding a return to normal maritime traffic.
For Iran, control over or influence on shipping through Hormuz represents a major source of strategic leverage. For the United States and its allies, maintaining freedom of navigation is considered essential to global energy and commercial security.
Any sustained reopening of the waterway could therefore have implications well beyond the immediate conflict.
Trump also commented on the war in Ukraine, describing CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow as largely routine.
Ratcliffe travelled to the Russian capital for discussions related to the war in Ukraine, Trump said.
The US president stressed that the visit was not connected to Iran or Russian threats against NATO.
Trump again criticised the Biden administration's handling of the Ukraine conflict, saying the war should never have started.
He argued that had he been president in 2022, the conflict would not have broken out.
Trump's comments reflect the administration's broader argument that military pressure, economic sanctions and diplomatic leverage can force adversaries towards negotiations without requiring prolonged conventional warfare.
But the situation with Iran remains highly fluid.
A formal end to hostilities would require more than an improvement in maritime traffic. Key issues — including Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions, regional security and the future of the Strait of Hormuz — remain central to any potential settlement.
For Washington, the challenge will be converting military pressure into a durable political agreement.
For Tehran, the immediate challenge is to protect its strategic interests while dealing with intense military and economic pressure.
Trump's prediction of a quick end to the conflict therefore marks an important political signal but whether it develops into a lasting ceasefire or broader agreement remains uncertain.
