Trump says Iran war could end soon
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller (L) and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (R) look on as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C,, Aug. 7, 2026. (AFP Photo)


U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes the war involving Iran could end soon, telling reporters he does not expect the conflict to continue much longer.

"I ⁠think it's ⁠going to end pretty soon. I don't think they can ⁠go much longer," Trump said ​in the Oval ​Office ⁠in ‌a reference ‌to ⁠Iran.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that ⁠the ⁠U.S. Army had used up much of its global stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran.

When asked about the status of munitions stockpiles, Trump said the country ⁠had an almost unlimited supply of certain weapons but acknowledged inventories of others ​were limited.

"We have certain types of ​munitions that are very powerful, that we have unlimited, ⁠virtual ‌unlimited ‌supply. We have others where ⁠it's a little ‌bit tighter," Trump said.

Trump said ​U.S. defense companies ⁠were building more production ⁠plants, including facilities for Patriot ⁠and Tomahawk missiles.

Meanwhile, a U.S. official said Thursday that a temporary deal between Iran and Oman would allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz free of charge.

"Any temporary routes will be without any impediments - meaning no approvals or permissions and no tolls or charges," the official said. "The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.

Iran currently continues to control the critical waterway, which is normally a key route for the export of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf states.

Tehran is reportedly on the verge of reaching an agreement with Oman regarding shipping through the strait.

With a view to opening the strait, Iran is reported to have proposed a kind of round-trip route: ships could enter the Persian Gulf via a northern route through the strait and leave it again via a southern route along the coast of Oman.

The U.S. is not said to have been involved in the negotiations between the two Gulf states.

This is said to be an interim solution, while the sea mines laid by Iran are cleared.

The dispute over the strait is central to why the war between the U.S. and Iran has recently escalated once again.

Before the outbreak of the war at the end of February, ships were able to pass through the strait unhindered.