Conflict & Security
Trump says US-Iran war nearing end as Tehran deepens China ties and Gulf summit looms
September 17, 2026 at 10:29 AM · Updated 29d ago
Coverage
8 reports · over 625 hours
Washington and Tehran are signaling the US-Iran war is close to ending, as Trump prepares Gulf talks while Iran engages China and regional capitals.
- Trump said the war with Iran will end soon, asserting the US imposed an unprecedented naval blockade that no ship has breached and that Tehran can no longer continue fighting.
- Araghchi held phone calls with Pakistan's army chief and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his Beijing visit, where both sides exchanged views on regional developments.
- Araghchi said Iran attaches special importance to its strategic partnership with China and warned that current decisions will affect the region's future strategic balance.
- Trump is expected to meet GCC leaders on the UN General Assembly sidelines Tuesday to discuss post-war plans, with the State Department having sent initial invitations, Axios reported.
- At a North Carolina rally, Trump said US forces had sunk 159 Iranian ships and largely destroyed Iran's naval and air capabilities.
- Trump predicted the conflict could end shortly after the November elections, or possibly before.
- US Vice President JD Vance said the US has heavily damaged Iran's nuclear program and military, but Iranian forces still target commercial shipping amid peace talks.






