WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. officials had spoken with mediators working to end the war with Iran, while also saying he expects the United States to prevail in the conflict 'very soon.'
Trump made the comments to reporters at the White House as renewed diplomatic contacts continued through intermediaries.
Reuters reported the remarks at approximately 7:09 p.m. UTC Monday.
Trump said the United States had spoken with mediators but did not provide additional details about the substance of those conversations.
He also expressed confidence about the military outcome of the conflict, saying the war would end in a U.S. victory quickly.
Trump's comments represent his assessment of the conflict rather than an independently verified timeline for when the war may end.
No ceasefire or final agreement between the United States and Iran had been announced as of Monday evening.
Separate mediated contacts held Monday
Earlier Monday, Reuters reported that both U.S. and Iranian officials had spoken separately with mediators as part of the latest effort to end the seven-month conflict.
The contacts were indirect rather than face-to-face negotiations between American and Iranian officials.
Qatar has played a central role as an intermediary between the two governments.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi remained in New York following the United Nations General Assembly and was involved in the latest diplomatic discussions.
Further talks are expected to focus on an amended version of the seven-day proposal Iran presented last week.
Iran's proposal included steps involving an end to hostilities, the release of frozen Iranian assets, changes to sanctions on Iranian oil and the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Under the Iranian framework, Tehran would then move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal also envisioned renewed negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
Trump rejected original Iranian proposal
Trump said Saturday that he had rejected Iran's initial proposal.
The president said Iran was seeking a rapid agreement because of the economic pressure it is facing.
Despite rejecting the original proposal, Trump indicated that further negotiations would continue.
Monday's confirmation that U.S. officials had spoken with mediators shows that the diplomatic channel remains active.
Iran has also continued to publicly support a negotiated solution while maintaining its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Araqchi said Iran expects Washington to formally respond to Tehran's latest ceasefire proposals and its conditions for restoring maritime traffic through the strait.
Major differences remain
The two governments remain divided over several major issues, including sanctions, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.
Iran has said reopening the strait depends on its conditions being satisfied.
The United States has pushed for restored access through the waterway while maintaining pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities.
Iran has also maintained that it will not abandon what it considers its right to enrich uranium.
Those differences remain unresolved despite the renewed mediated contacts.
Strait of Hormuz remains central
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important issues in the negotiations because of its role in global energy markets.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for oil and natural-gas exports.
Disruptions associated with the conflict have affected shipping and contributed to volatility in global energy prices.
Trump said Monday that gasoline prices would fall after the United States wins the war.
That statement reflects the president's expectation and does not establish when or by how much fuel prices may change.
No agreement announced
The latest comments point to simultaneous military confidence from the White House and continued diplomatic engagement through mediators.
The fact that U.S. officials spoke with intermediaries does not mean a ceasefire agreement has been reached.
It also does not indicate that Washington has accepted Iran's revised terms.
Reuters reported that additional negotiations are expected to center on an amended version of Tehran's proposal.
The details of those amendments have not been publicly disclosed.
What happens next
Further mediated discussions could determine whether Washington and Tehran can narrow their differences over Hormuz, sanctions and the broader terms for ending the conflict.
Trump's statement that the United States expects to prevail 'very soon' adds a new public assessment from the president but does not establish a timetable for either a military conclusion or diplomatic settlement.
For now, the war continues while diplomatic contacts remain active through intermediaries.