Several clocks are ticking for the American president as he looks for a way out of the deadlock, observers suggest
3-MIN READ3-MIN1 ListenFan ChenPublished: 10:00pm, 15 Apr 2026Donald Trump’s claim that the US war with Iran is nearing an end reflects a desire to break the conflict’s deadlock to ease political pressure at home, according to analysts.Halfway into a two-week ceasefire and with a stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz, the US president was running out of time, they said, adding that a deal was still possible.In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump said the United States was “not done” but the six-week-old war was nearing the finish line.
“I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” he said.
American forces have “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea”, US Central Command said in a social media post on Tuesday, flaunting its “maritime superiority” in the Middle East and prompting threats of retaliation from Tehran.
Iranians dismiss Trump threats to block Hormuz Strait
