Trump says Iran war should end 'soon'
- Last updated: April 17, 2026 | 15:57
President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and said Hizbollah should support a 10-day US-backed truce agreed between Lebanon and Israel.
Trump said an extension of a two-week ceasefire with Iran was possible, but may not be needed. "We're going to see what happens. But I think we're very close to making a deal with Iran," he told reporters, adding if an agreement was reached and signed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, he may go there for the occasion.
The war triggered the worst oil price shock in history, with the International Monetary Fund downgrading its outlook for the global economy and warning prolonged conflict could push it to the brink of recession. Group of Seven finance chiefs on Thursday said there was a pressing need for lasting peace to limit the economic costs.
In Islamabad, the venue of last weekend's talks, troops were seen along routes leading into the capital on Friday, but roads were still open and the government had not issued orders for businesses to shut down, as they did prior to the last meeting.
RESTORING FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
France and Britain will chair a meeting on Friday of around 40 countries aimed at signalling to the US that some of its closest allies are ready to help restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but only once hostilities cease.
Trump had called on other countries to get involved in the war and criticised Nato allies for failing to do so.
According to a note sent to invited nations, the aim of the meeting is to reaffirm full diplomatic support for unfettered freedom of navigation through the waterway and the need to respect international law.
Iran has largely closed the strait to ships other than its own, while Washington this week imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Only a trickle of vessels have passed through the strait since the war started, compared with an average 130-plus each day before the conflict.
Optimism a deal may be close fuelled a strong rally in stocks this week, with global markets holding near record highs on Friday, while benchmark oil prices were pinned below $100 a barrel.