US President Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon as the conflict in West Asia continues, while indicating that an end to the war could come “very soon”. Trump made the remarks in Dublin after meeting Irish President Catherine Connolly, where he was also asked about prospects for bringing the conflict to an end.

Trump said the United States had “a lot of great cards” when dealing with Iran, without specifying what options Washington could pursue. His comments came as uncertainty continued over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route affected by the wider regional conflict. Iranian MP Behnam Saeedi separately said a shipping arrangement involving Iran and Oman for the Strait of Hormuz was expected to be announced soon.

The situation around the strategic waterway has remained a major concern amid broader tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Asked about the Hormuz crisis and concerns over Saudi Arabia following developments involving the Houthis and strikes on a critical oil pipeline in the kingdom, Trump said that “everything will work out just fine”. He also said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as regional tensions continued.

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Trump also addressed developments elsewhere in the region, saying there were a lot of good relationships taking place in Gaza. Separately, he said the Houthis had contacted the United States and asked Washington not to target them. His remarks came during his Ireland visit, where he described US-Ireland relations as strong while also discussing trade and economic issues between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected the idea that the United States should act as a regional security guarantor. Speaking during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India, Pezeshkian said the region did not need a “regional policeman”. He argued that the security and territorial integrity of West Asia should instead be protected by countries within the region.

The contrasting positions come as diplomatic and security concerns remain centred on Iran’s nuclear programme, the conflict and the security of major regional transport routes. Trump has signalled that Washington believes an end to the war may be possible soon, while Tehran continues to stress regional ownership of security arrangements. Developments around the Strait of Hormuz are likely to remain closely watched because of its importance to international shipping and global energy supplies.

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