On March 9, 2026, in a phone interview with CBS News, US President Donald Trump made a striking assessment of the ongoing military operation with Iran: “I think the war is very much over, almost finished. They have no navy, no communications, no air force.” Trump emphasized that the operation had far exceeded the initially projected 4-5 week timeframe and that the US had made “great progress.” These words quickly spread on social media with the hashtag #TrumpSaysIranConflictNearsEnd, reinforcing the perception that the conflict with Iran was nearing its final stages. Trump’s message wasn’t limited to just the interview. That same day, at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago, he stated, “We are making great strides toward our military goals.” The following day, at a meeting with Republican lawmakers in Miami, he spoke in a more cautious tone: “In many ways, we have already won, but we haven’t won enough yet. We will move forward more decisively to achieve ultimate victory.” These contradictory statements reflect Trump's typical communication style: on the one hand, he declares victory, while on the other, he issues harsh warnings to Iran. Trump sent a clear message to the Iranian regime: "They've thrown everything away, they shouldn't try anything 'clever' anymore, or that country will be finished." He specifically stated that he would respond "twenty times harder" to the threat of cutting off oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. His words, "I'm even considering taking over the Strait," directly affect global energy markets. Indeed, in the first days of the operation, the price of a barrel of oil surged to $120, but quickly fell after Trump's statement that "the war is almost over." The conflict is in its 11th day. The Pentagon described March 10th as "the most intense day of strikes inside Iran." Joint US and Israeli operations targeted Iran's nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile infrastructure. According to Trump, the Iranian military is effectively paralyzed. However, reactions from Tehran are quite different: While the Revolutionary Guard says, "We will decide when to end the war," the regime seems to have shifted to a "tougher" stance with the election of the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi closed the doors, saying, "We will not sit at the negotiating table with the US again."
Victory or new uncertainty?
The operation, which Trump described as a "short-term adventure," is indeed progressing faster than planned. However, history shows that declarations of "quick victory" in the Middle East often create new problems. Trump says he wants to stop Iran's nuclear program and regional expansionism "never again"; but the regime's resistance and the new leader's tough stance make it doubtful that the conflict will end completely in the short term.
From an economic perspective, fluctuations in oil prices directly affected the US domestic market and global trade. The increase in gas prices reignited inflation concerns. While markets were partially relieved by Trump's "it will end soon" message, any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz still carries significant risks. Politically, Trump's statements both please his base and provoke criticism from opponents of "hasty" actions. Internationally, NATO allies and Russia have offered mediation. Trump's implication that "we have a new leader to run Iran" once again reveals Washington's goal of regime change.
News circulating under the hashtag #TrumpSaysIranConflictNearsEnd reflects Trump's confident tone: "The war is almost over, it will end very soon." While military data indicates the operation is indeed in an advanced stage, Iran's defiance and Trump's own contradictory messages suggest a complete closure is yet to come. Will the conflict truly end as a "short-lived adventure," or will it mark the beginning of a new geopolitical equation? The coming days will provide the answer. The only thing certain at the moment is that Trump is ready to declare "victory" and Iran seems determined to resist. Developments must be closely monitored; because in the Middle East, the end of a war is usually the beginning of a new era.