Signalling a possible turning point in the ongoing Middle East conflict, US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran is “close to over”.

In remarks to Fox News, Trump said, “I think it’s close to over, yeah,” adding, “I view it as very close to over.”

However, he indicated that US operations may not yet be complete, warning, “We are not finished… we’ll see what happens.”

Trump’s remarks followed his earlier statement that a second round of face-to-face talks with Iran is possible in Pakistan in the coming days.

In the interview with Fox News, the US president reiterated his long-standing claim that the military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, arguing that without US intervention, Tehran would already possess such capabilities.

He also said the damage inflicted by US and Israeli strikes could take decades to rebuild, estimating it may take Iran up to 20 years to recover.

Trump further suggested that Iran may now be more willing to negotiate, saying, “I think they want to make a deal very badly.”

His comments come despite earlier assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said there was no evidence Iran was building a nuclear weapon before the war began.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said a ceasefire between the two sides appears to be holding nearly a week after it was put in place.

Speaking after leading US talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Vance said Washington had offered to normalise economic relations if Tehran was “willing to act like a normal country.”

He emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains the core objective of US policy, adding that the administration is seeking a comprehensive agreement.

“The president doesn’t want to make a small deal; he wants to make the grand bargain,” Vance said.

Vance also acknowledged criticism of US Middle East policy among younger Americans, urging them to remain politically engaged despite disagreements.