President Donald Trump stated this Wednesday in a wars with Iran is "very close to ending", although he cautioned that military pressure on the Iranian regime has not yet concluded.
The statements were revealed by Fox News and correspond to an interview with Maria Bartiromo on the program "Mornings with Maria," in which Trump justified Operation Epic Fury as a necessary action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
"I had to divert my course, because if I hadn't, they would currently possess a nuclear weapon in Iran," stated the president.
At the same time, Trump made it clear that the military campaign is far from over: "If I were to withdraw right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we are not finished".
Regarding the prospects of an agreement, the president expressed cautious optimism: "I believe they want to make a deal very desperately."
The Epic Fury Operation, a joint offensive by the United States and Israel that began on February 28, 2026, destroyed the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on March 1.
According to figures from the Trump administration, the operation eliminated 90% of Iranian missiles and 95% of their drones, although independent assessments indicate that approximately 80% of the Iranian industrial nuclear base was affected, but not completely destroyed.
The enriched uranium deposits in Iran remain largely intact. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in March that Iran possessed 5,500 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, enough to produce nine nuclear bombs.
A two-week ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, went into effect on April 8 and is set to expire on April 21, although violations have been reported by both sides.
The peace negotiations held in Islamabad from April 10 to 12 failed after 21 hours of talks without an agreement. The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, demanded the complete dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program and a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment.
Iran, represented by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Chancellor Abas Araqchi, only accepted a five-year pause and demanded compensation of 270 billion dollars.
After the failure of the negotiations, Vance was decisive: "They have chosen not to accept our terms... bad news for Iran".
On April 14, Trump ordered a naval blockade against Iranian ports to cut off the regime's oil exports, a measure that China described as "dangerous and irresponsible" and warned of countermeasures.
Despite the impasse, the UN stated yesterday that it was "very likely" negotiations would resume, and Trump indicated that a new round could take place in the next two days, possibly this Thursday in Islamabad.
Filed under: