Trump told reporters in September 2026 that the United States was "hopefully toward the end" of its war with which country?

Explanation: President Trump told reporters that the United States was "hopefully toward the end" of its nearly seven-month war with Iran, saying Tehran wanted to make a deal, while also claiming he had spoken with Iranian officials "directly." His remarks came even as fighting escalated between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. For CSS International Relations, this illustrates how conflict de-escalation signals often emerge alongside continued military escalation on adjacent fronts of the same broader regional confrontation.