President Donald Trump claimed the war with Iran is “very close to over” in a Fox Business interview that aired Wednesday, even as U.S. forces actively enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports and House Republicans blocked yet another Democratic effort to limit the president’s military authority.
In a pre-recorded interview with Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria,” Trump suggested that military action had largely succeeded. “We’ve beaten them militarily, totally,” Trump said, adding that if he “pulled up stakes right now it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country.” The comments came as CENTCOM reported that 14 ships have turned around rather than challenge the U.S. blockade—an operation estimated to cost Iran $435 million per day in economic damage.
The president’s optimistic assessment clashed sharply with reality on the ground. U.S. Central Command confirmed Wednesday that the blockade had been “fully implemented” within 36 hours of Trump’s order, with more than 10,000 U.S. personnel, over a dozen warships, and more than 100 aircraft enforcing the stranglehold on Iranian ports. Admiral Brad Cooper said the operation had “completely halted” all seaborne economic activity into and out of Iran.
On Capitol Hill, the House rejected a Democratic war powers resolution in a razor-thin 213 to 214 vote Thursday—the third failed attempt to constrain Trump’s authority over the Iran conflict. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, a centrist Democrat retiring at the end of his term, joined Republicans in opposition, while libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky broke ranks to vote with Democrats.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., defended the president’s military strategy in a separate Fox Business appearance, arguing that a war powers resolution would “give cover to the regime.” Lawler has faced heated town halls in his suburban swing district, where frustrated constituents have demanded he explain his votes against checking the president’s war powers.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller mounted an aggressive defense of the blockade across multiple Fox News programs, calling it a “total resetting of the American power dynamic for the next 100 years.” Miller told Sean Hannity that the United States “has the capacity to continue this indefinitely” if Iran refuses to make a deal, while warning that without an agreement, Iran would “become a footnote.”
The stakes extend beyond the Middle East as Trump prepares for a rescheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping now set for mid-May in Beijing—delayed from its original late March date because of the Iran conflict. Trump claimed on Truth Social that Xi would give him a “big, fat, hug” when they meet, touting China’s purported agreement not to send weapons to Iran in exchange for the U.S. “permanently opening” the Strait of Hormuz.
The war has exacted a significant human toll. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed and approximately 373 have been wounded since strikes began February 28. The death toll across the region has climbed to nearly 6,000 people, according to reports—more than 3,000 in Iran alone, with over 2,100 killed in Lebanon where Israeli forces continue operations against Hezbollah.
Inside Iran, conditions continue to deteriorate under the combined pressure of weeks of bombing and the new blockade. Inflation has surged, with staple food prices rising as much as sevenfold in recent months. The rial has weakened sharply, trading near 1.6 million per dollar in unofficial markets. Analysts warn that without access to export revenue, Iran’s oil storage capacity could fill within 13 days, forcing the shutdown of oil wells and potentially causing permanent damage to production capacity.
A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran—set to expire April 22—has held even as the blockade tightens. Both sides have expressed interest in returning to negotiations, with regional officials working to extend the pause and restart in-person talks. Pakistan’s military chief traveled to Tehran this week as mediators seek to arrange another round of negotiations.
Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation during failed weekend talks in Islamabad, said Trump is pushing for a “grand bargain” with Iran. “If you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive,” Vance said, describing the message Trump wants to send.
For now, the U.S. military posture remains aggressive. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Iranian leaders that bombing campaigns will resume if a deal isn’t reached. Trump has repeatedly threatened that if Iran chooses not to dismantle its nuclear program, “I don’t know how much longer they can survive.”
As the blockade enters its fourth day and diplomatic overtures continue, Trump’s assertion that the war is “very close to over” sits uneasily alongside the 14 turned-back ships, the 13 American graves, and the uncertain path ahead. Whether his words reflect confident strategy or wishful thinking, the world is watching to see if actions match rhetoric before the ceasefire clock runs out.
