Updated

President Donald Trump said at a news conference that the war with Iran could be ending fairly soon, while stressing that US forces remain locked and loaded. He said Tehran was talking very politely and described momentum toward ending the conflict. Haaretz separately reports that a new US task force aims to tighten economic pressure on Iran, with its test being whether Asian allies join enforcement without escalating the confrontation. In a phone interview with C-SPAN's Washington Journal Primetime, Trump said renewed attacks on Iran could be five times bigger than previous US strikes. Middle East Eye reported that he also claimed to have wiped out Iran's navy, air force, anti-aircraft capabilities and leaders, and said Iran wants a deal but does not say so publicly. These remarks add a sharper threat to the diplomatic signals in the same news cycle.