US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Five months into the U.S.-Iran war, President Donald Trump is signalling that the conflict could be approaching a turning point, even as military pressure, weapons shortages and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to complicate the situation. Trump said on Thursday that he expects the war to end “pretty soon” and argued that Iran cannot sustain the fight much longer.
His comments came as questions over U.S. missile supplies gained fresh attention. The American military has used a large share of its long-range precision weapons during the conflict, while defence companies are working to expand production of systems such as Patriot and Tomahawk missiles. At the same time, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply, showing that the conflict continues to affect one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The latest developments come as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a conflict that has stretched far beyond the short campaign initially envisioned by Trump. Parallel diplomatic efforts involving Iran and Oman are also focusing attention on whether a workable arrangement can restore regular shipping through Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Trump Says Iran War Could End “Pretty Soon”
Trump struck an optimistic tone on Thursday while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
He said, “I think it’s going to end pretty soon. I don’t think they can go much longer.”
Trump was referring to Iran’s ability to continue the conflict and did not provide a specific timetable for an end to the fighting. His comments nevertheless represent one of his clearest recent indications that he expects the war to move toward an endpoint.
The remarks came after months of fighting and amid renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that Trump has faced increasing pressure to find a way out of the conflict, which has now entered its sixth month.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: US Faces Growing Pressure Over Missile Supplies
Trump also acknowledged that the United States does not have unlimited supplies of every type of weapon.
He said, “We have certain types of munitions that are very powerful, that we have unlimited, virtual unlimited supply. We have others where it’s a little bit tighter,”
The comments followed a Reuters report that the U.S. Army had used much of its global stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during the five-month war with Iran.
The issue has become increasingly important because the United States must maintain military readiness not only in the Middle East but also in other strategic regions.
Trump said American defence companies were responding by expanding manufacturing capacity. He specifically pointed to new production facilities for Patriot and Tomahawk missiles.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Why US Missile Stockpiles Matter?
The weapons shortage has emerged as one of the most significant strategic consequences of the prolonged conflict.
The United States has relied heavily on precision weapons and missile-defence systems during the war. Continued fighting could force Washington to balance its immediate military requirements in the Middle East with its need to maintain reserves for other potential conflicts.
An earlier Associated Press analysis found that U.S. contractors could need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of several key weapons systems heavily used during the Iran war.
AP has also reported that recent fighting further reduced already diminished stocks of advanced air-defence interceptors, raising concerns about the ability to protect U.S. forces if hostilities continue or resume elsewhere.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Military Experts Warn War is Creating a Wider Readiness Problem
The missile issue extends beyond the immediate U.S.-Iran battlefield.
Michael Stephens, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Al Jazeera that reports had circulated for months about pressure on U.S. interceptor supplies.
“The fact is it’s more dangerous for US military personnel to operate in the region as a result of these missile shortages. It’s putting strain on other commands in East Asia as well, so the problem is very acute,” Stephens told Al Jazeera.
He also questioned efforts to downplay the stockpile problem, saying, “facts are facts.
Stephens warned that the issue could become politically damaging for the Trump administration as the U.S. approaches the midterm elections.
“The problem, I think, with taking this line is that at some point, political opponents will realise this is a weakness you’re trying to cover up, and they’ll attack you for it,” Stephens said.
“Mid-terms are three months away. The Democrats will be looking at this, going, ‘You haven’t managed your defence arsenal in the way that you should’… but the point is this: The US is facing a problem as a result of this war dragging on,” he added.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Strait of Hormuz Shipping Drops Sharply
The military conflict continues to have a direct impact on commercial shipping.
Reuters reported that only 33 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday through Thursday this week, compared with 50 vessels during the same period last week.
Traffic fell particularly sharply on Thursday, when only four vessels passed through the waterway. One of them was the very large crude carrier Nissos Kea, carrying around two million barrels of Basrah crude from Iraq.
Only six crude oil tankers had exited the Strait of Hormuz during the week through Thursday, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters.
Before the conflict, around 130 to 140 vessels typically passed through Hormuz each week, making the current traffic levels a major disruption to normal maritime activity.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Iran-Oman Talks Put Hormuz at the Centre of Diplomacy
The sharp reduction in shipping comes as Iran and Oman discuss arrangements aimed at reopening the strategically important waterway.
Reuters reported that a proposed arrangement could give Iran a degree of control over vessels entering the Gulf, although major questions remain unresolved. These include sanctions, insurance requirements and possible fees for ships using the route.
The shipping industry has raised concerns that a proposed system involving transit charges could create legal and insurance complications for vessel operators.
The United States has opposed any arrangement that would allow Iran to impose fees on international shipping, while Iran has sought greater control over traffic entering the Gulf.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: Trump’s Iran Strategy Faces a Difficult Test
Trump’s latest comments come at a complicated moment for his administration.
On one side, the president says Iran cannot continue fighting for much longer and appears to be signalling confidence that the conflict could end soon.
On the other, the United States faces pressure from declining weapons inventories, while shipping through Hormuz remains far below normal levels. The administration must therefore weigh military pressure against the costs of keeping the campaign going.
Reuters has reported that Trump’s administration has also explored diplomatic options, including efforts related to Hormuz. However, disagreements over shipping control, fees and sanctions continue to make an agreement difficult.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest LIVE News: What Happens Next in the US-Iran War?
Trump’s statement suggests Washington wants the conflict to move toward an end, but the situation remains fluid.
The next major indicators will include the level of military activity, progress in diplomatic discussions and the movement of commercial vessels through Hormuz.
A sustained increase in shipping would provide stronger evidence that the security situation is improving. Conversely, continued low traffic would signal that companies remain unwilling to take normal risks in the waterway.
For the United States, weapons production will also remain a major issue. Expanding missile manufacturing can replenish depleted inventories, but building new production capacity takes time.
For now, Trump’s expectation that the war will end “pretty soon” has not been matched by a confirmed settlement. The coming days will show whether his prediction reflects genuine diplomatic progress or simply a political assessment of Iran’s ability to continue the conflict.
