US President Donald Trump has claimed that the war against Iran could end soon, while insisting that any agreement must guarantee that Tehran will never acquire nuclear weapons, as diplomatic efforts continue amid growing fears of renewed US-Israeli military action against the Islamic Republic.

"It's going to get wrapped up soon," Trump said Friday in an interview with Kansas City radio station KCMO, just days before the November 3 US midterm congressional elections.

"We need a guarantee there'll never be a nuclear weapon," he added, without explaining how the conflict would be brought to an end or what concessions Washington would be prepared to make.

Trump's remarks come as his administration continues to combine diplomatic overtures with military threats, raising questions about Washington's commitment to a negotiated settlement.

The latest comments follow reports that US forces are preparing for the possibility of renewed military strikes against Iran after the midterm elections. Washington has reportedly warned regional countries to prepare for a potential new round of attacks, although Trump has not announced a final decision.

Meanwhile, Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday in a renewed effort to secure an interim agreement and prevent a further escalation.

Under a proposal presented by Iran, Tehran would facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, the resumption of Iranian oil exports and access to some of its frozen overseas assets. The proposal would then pave the way for broader negotiations.

However, negotiations remain complicated by Washington's demands concerning Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and access for international nuclear inspectors.

Iranian officials have rejected demands that the country's enriched uranium be transferred abroad, insisting that negotiations must respect Iran's national rights and address the consequences of US actions.

Iran has maintained that it remains open to diplomacy while preparing to defend its sovereignty against any further military aggression.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iranian armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country, while Tehran continues to give diplomatic efforts an opportunity to succeed.

The confrontation follows the US-Israeli military campaign launched against Iran on February 28 and a subsequent 40-day bombing campaign. The attacks targeted key Iranian facilities and intensified regional instability, while failing to produce a lasting political settlement, according to diplomatic and regional assessments.

The conflict has also raised concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for international oil shipments.

Washington continues to insist that Iran must provide guarantees preventing it from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran rejects what it considers unilateral demands and pressure aimed at undermining its sovereign rights.

The dispute has been further complicated by the suspension of international inspections at Iran's main nuclear facilities following US strikes on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites during last year's 12-day war.

Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that the country's nuclear programme is peaceful and that its rights under international agreements must be respected.

With Qatar continuing its mediation efforts and Washington weighing its next move, Trump's prediction that the conflict will end soon remains unsupported by a clear timetable or a concrete agreement.

The coming days, particularly the period following the US midterm elections, could prove decisive in determining whether diplomatic efforts gain momentum or the region faces another escalation. (ILKHA)