US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran is “on the verge of surrender,” signaling that he believes the end of the ongoing war is near. During a virtual meeting with G7 leaders last Wednesday, Trump claimed the Islamic Republic is “about to give up,” according to an Axios report published Friday. The report cited three G7 officials who were briefed on the contents of the teleconference. Some officials and advisors have warned Trump that surging gasoline prices—which hit a national average of $3.60 per gallon this week—could carry a heavy political cost following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. These insights were gathered through Reuters interviews with a Trump advisor and several others close to the high-level deliberations.

Source: Egypt Independent March 13, 2026 12:49 UTC