Like Lucy with the football, President Donald Trump keeps teasing that a deal to end the war with Iran is nearly over.

Stocks were climbing for the third day in a row this week as enthusiasm over the expected end of the war in Iran buoyed the market, and investors looked forward to earnings season, which has kicked off this week with strong results from the top banks.

Trump threatens Iran with "higher level" strikes if it won't accept a peace deal, but says it's too soon for direct talks after reporting diplomatic progress.

The President provided a number of details about talks with Iran, including a possible deal ahead of King Charles III visiting the White House at the end of April

However, Donald Trump that if Iran doesn't agree, then the bombing will begin again, and this time, "at a much higher level and intensity" than before.

As President Trump again voiced optimism that Iran will "make a deal" to end the war, Tehran declared itself the regulator of Strait of Hormuz shipping.

Trump said talks were moving forward, although Iran dismissed suggestions that a deal was imminent, stating it had not yet submitted its reply to Pakistani intermediaries.

US President Donald Trump says he views the Iran war as "very close to over" in his latest comments amid a fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

DUBAI/WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump said the war he launched with Israel on Iran was close to over, as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran to try to prevent a renewal of the conflict.

Iran-US war latest: Trump says war is close to over as US claims ‘maritime superiority’ in Middle East - JD Vance said Trump ‘wants to make the grand bargain’ with Iran after peace talks failed over t

By Ariba Shahid, Steve Holland and Nayera Abdallah ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 7 (Reuters) - The United States and Iran are edging toward a limited, temporary agreement to halt their war, sources and officials said on Thursday,