7 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran will be brought to an end, warning that it could happen either the “nice way” or the “not-so-nice way” as Washington continues its military campaign against Tehran.
Speaking at an event in Sparrows Point, Maryland, on Tuesday, Trump said the United States was doing “extremely well” in Iran and claimed that the Iranian military had been severely weakened. He said Washington now needed to “finish up” the conflict and suggested that the manner in which it ends would depend on developments in the coming days.
“We have to finish up, and it’s only a question of which way do we want to do it, the nice way or the not-so-nice way? And pretty soon you’ll find out,” Trump said.
The remarks represent another warning from the US president that military pressure on Iran could continue if diplomatic efforts do not produce an outcome acceptable to Washington. Trump has previously used similar language, saying that Iran could face an easier or harder path depending on how the confrontation develops.
Trump’s latest comments came as the conflict between the United States and Iran entered another tense phase. The war has involved US and Israeli military action against Iran, followed by Iranian attacks against Israel and US-linked targets across the region.
The US president claimed that Iran’s military had been significantly damaged during the conflict. However, Iranian authorities have continued to maintain their ability to respond and have issued warnings over further US or Israeli military action.
Trump also discussed the US military’s presence around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. He described the US maritime measures as a “wall of steel” and said that Washington was restricting Iranian maritime traffic.
Trump said the US Navy was also working to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The issue of Iran’s nuclear programme has been central to the conflict and to Washington’s stated objectives.
US Vice President JD Vance has separately said that Iran would need to make significant reductions in its uranium-enrichment capacity for the war to end. Washington has maintained that Tehran must provide concrete assurances regarding its nuclear programme.
Iran, however, has disputed US characterisations of its nuclear activities and has continued to reject what it considers unacceptable demands. Diplomatic efforts have continued alongside the military confrontation, with regional countries attempting to facilitate communication between the two sides.
The latest Trump statement also comes as uncertainty surrounds Iran’s internal political leadership. Trump said earlier that “nobody knows” who is running Iran, amid changes to the country’s leadership structure during the conflict.
The prolonged conflict has also created significant economic consequences. Oil prices have remained sensitive to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, while shipping disruptions have affected energy markets. Trump has claimed that oil shipments through the waterway have recently recovered to levels seen before the war.
Despite the continuing military confrontation, diplomatic options have not completely disappeared. Iran has received a US response to its latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict, while mediators from countries including Qatar and Pakistan have sought to keep negotiations moving.
Trump’s statement therefore leaves open two possible approaches: continued diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement or further military pressure if negotiations fail. His use of the phrase “not-so-nice way” does not specify what additional military action Washington might take.
The comments are likely to increase attention on the next steps by the US administration. Any escalation could have consequences beyond the immediate US-Iran confrontation, particularly for Israel, Gulf countries, commercial shipping and global energy markets.
At the same time, a diplomatic breakthrough could potentially reduce military tensions and improve the security situation across the region. The timing and conditions for such an agreement remain uncertain.
For now, Trump has indicated that Washington intends to bring the conflict to an end, while leaving the method unresolved. His warning that the outcome could come through either the “nice way” or the “not-so-nice way” underscores the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the US-Iran confrontation.