“and its allies watched the ceasefire hold, while Iranian officials vowed retaliation for any perceived U.S.”

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Trump Claims War “Close to Over” While U.S. Tightens Economic Stranglehold on Iran

Amid a fragile ceasefire, Washington’s new sanctions signal a different kind of conflict, rattling allies and testing the limits of presidential rhetoric.

In a televised address on Tuesday, President Trump declared that the “war is close to over,” citing the recent 10‑day truce in Lebanon as a sign of progress. Yet, less than an hour later, the Treasury Department announced a package of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports and banking infrastructure—an economic tightening that could cripple Tehran’s war‑financing capacity. The move came as the U.S. and its allies watched the ceasefire hold, while Iranian officials vowed retaliation for any perceived U.S. interference.