Iran Made Direct Contact Seeking Ceasefire: Trump Claims

Washington — Updated September 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had made direct contact with Washington and wants to reach a deal, as he described the current state of the war as nearing its end.
Asked how he would characterize the stage of the war the US finds itself in, Trump said: “Hopefully we’re heading toward the end of the war.” Speaking to reporters after landing in North Carolina, he added that Iran wants to make a deal, and “we’ll see how it works out.”
When asked whether he had heard from Iran directly or through intermediaries, Trump said he had heard from them directly. The remarks come amid rising tensions between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz, even as a memorandum signed in June had committed to reopening the strategic waterway as part of a broader peace agreement.
The US and Israel had carried out large-scale strikes on Iran in February, targeting government buildings, military sites, missile infrastructure, and air defenses — prompting Iran to launch missile and drone attacks against Israel and US bases in the region. The conflict has since spread across the region. Iran also shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil transport, triggering a global oil crisis and a sustained rise in crude prices. Despite its efforts, the US has been unable to reopen the strait. Diplomatic efforts to end the standoff continue.