The U.S. may not need to extend the ceasefire with Iran because it may not be necessary, President Donald Trump said, expressing his view that the war is “very close to over” and suggesting that new talks could be held as early as this week.
Asked by Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo whether or not the war is over, President Trump said in an interview “I think it’s close to over. Yeah. I mean I view it as very close to over.”
“If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished, but we’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly,” Trump told the Fox News anchor.
In a separate interview with ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, President Trump hinted of a major turning point this week.
“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” President Trump said.
“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild. They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals. They’re gone, no longer with us,” the U.S. President claimed.
And he added, “If I weren’t president, the world would be torn to pieces.”
Speculation is intensifying on Wednesday that the talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume as early as Thursday, after negotiations collapsed this weekend following 21 hours of talks.
Oil prices were stable early on Wednesday in European trade despite the President’s hints that the war could soon be over.
Meanwhile, the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – initiated on Monday – appears to have passed its first real test, as the U.S. has successfully turned back all vessels that attempted to break through.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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