Donald Trump says the U.S.-Iran war is "very close" to an end amid a two-week ceasefire, as U.S. and Iranian negotiators prepare to restart peace talks Thursday.

The U.S. has beaten Iran "militarily" and that the war is "very close to over," Trump said, claiming a peace deal likely.

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 defended its demands for a peace deal after President Trump called them “unacceptable.” Oil prices rose and stocks were flat amid no signs of an end to the war.

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.

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

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.

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.

US President Donald Trump has predicted that the war in Iran will be "over quickly" and says that most people "understand" his goal of ending Tehran's nuclear ambitions. His comments come after Iran said a US proposal to end the war is "still being considered".

By Isla Binnie NEW YORK, April 15 (Reuters) - Wall Street's stock benchmark S&P 500 touched an intraday record high as hopes for a cooling of U.S.-Iran tensions and strong earnings expectations boosted risk appetite on Wednesday,

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.

P resident Trump really, really wants the war with Iran to end. He has declared victory many times, including about three weeks ago, when Iran briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz. He has repeatedly extended his cease-fire deadlines instead of following through on his (sometimes-apocalyptic) threats to resume hostilities.