US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed the conflict with Iran was “very close to over”, even as Pakistan intensified backchannel diplomacy with a high-level delegation, led by Army Chief Asim Munir, reaching Tehran to push for a renewed ceasefire framework.In remarks to Fox Business, Trump asserted that Iran had been “hit very hard” and warned that US forces could “take out every one of their bridges and power plants in one hour” if negotiations failed. “I think they want to make a deal very badly,” he said, signalling that a second round of talks could resume soon.The diplomatic momentum comes amid efforts to extend the fragile US-Iran truce, set to expire on April 22. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that message exchanges between Tehran and Washington were continuing through Pakistan, with “multiple messages” already conveyed since the last round of talks.Baghaei said a Pakistani delegation was expected in Tehran to “discuss the views of both sides”, indicating a move towards structured negotiations. “We entered talks to end the war, secure Iran’s rights and obtain war reparations,” he said, reiterating that Tehran’s nuclear programme remained “purely peaceful” while leaving room for discussions on enrichment levels within a broader agreement.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a cautious note, saying Tehran was open to “constructive engagement” but would not yield to pressure. “Any attempt to impose will or force the country into submission is doomed to fail,” he said.Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his military posture, claiming the US intervention had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.In a post on Truth Social, he suggested improving coordination with China, stating that Beijing had agreed not to supply weapons to Tehran and backing efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also the world. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks,” Trump wrote.The developments come against the backdrop of a US-enforced blockade on Iranian ports, which has heightened regional tensions but also accelerated diplomatic efforts to avert further escalation.Meanwhile, two days into the US Navy enforced blockade of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, Tehran has threatened to retaliate and block trade through the Red Sea along with the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman if the US naval blockade continues.The US move constitutes a violation of the ceasefire, said the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top joint military command.“Our armed forces will not allow trade to flow through the Red Sea We will not allow any exports or imports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman if the American blockade continues,” its commander said in a statement. Meanwhile, the US Central Command, posted an update on Wednesday evening, saying, “No vessels have made it past the US forces.”The post said “during the first 48 hours of the US blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces”. Additionally, 9 vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area”.