US President Donald Trump suggested Monday that the war against Iran could end “very soon,” even as advisers pressed him to outline a clear exit strategy, The Palestine Chronicle reported, citing The Wall Street Journal.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump said the campaign was “way ahead of schedule.” But according to the WSJ report, several advisers have urged him to publicly frame the conflict as largely accomplished and begin preparing for withdrawal.
Concerns within Trump’s political circle have grown as oil prices surge, raising fears of economic backlash. “When the price of gas and oil rise, so does everything else,” said Stephen Moore, an outside economic adviser to Trump. Recent polls show most Americans oppose the war, underscoring the risk of prolonged engagement.
Iran Rejects Renewed Talks
In Tehran, officials dismissed prospects for negotiations with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS NewsHour that past talks had been undermined by US military action. “We negotiated with them last year… and they attacked us in the middle of negotiations,” he said, adding that renewed dialogue was no longer on the agenda.
Araghchi argued that US and Israeli objectives had failed. “They thought that, in a matter of two or three days, they can go for a regime change… but they failed,” he said.
‘War Was Imposed on Iran’
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani insisted Tehran had not initiated the conflict but would determine its conclusion. “Iran did not start the war but will end it,” she said, stressing that mediation should focus on halting aggression rather than temporary ceasefires.
Mohajerani highlighted the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new leader, saying it had strengthened national unity and thwarted external plans. She also underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a vital resource in the confrontation.(ZIA LUNA)
