Trump says US could ‘leave’ Iran war within 2-3 weeks, even without a deal

President Donald Trump signalled on Tuesday that the United States could wind down its military involvement in Iran within two to three weeks, saying a formal deal with Tehran was not a prerequisite for an American exit. This marks a significant shift in tone from an administration that had previously threatened to intensify operations if Iran refused to accept its ceasefire framework.

“We’ll be leaving very soon,” Trump told reporters at the White House. Asked whether successful diplomacy was required before the US could end what it calls “Operation Epic Fury”, he was unambiguous. “Iran doesn’t have to make a deal with me,” he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment on Fox News, saying the United States could “see the finish line” and that a meeting between both sides was possible “at some point.” He added: “It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming.” The White House announced that Trump would address the nation on Wednesday evening to provide what it described as “an important update on Iran.”

The remarks sent markets sharply higher. Wall Street’s S&P 500 climbed 2.9 per cent on Tuesday as traders priced in the prospect of de-escalation, while Asian stocks extended the rally on Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumping nearly 4 per cent at one point.

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Iran pushes back and escalates

Tehran, however, offered little to match Washington’s optimism. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, cited by Al Jazeera, acknowledged receiving direct messages from US special envoy Steve Witkoff but insisted they did not constitute negotiations — describing them instead as threats or exchanged views delivered through intermediaries.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards escalated further on Tuesday, issuing threats against 18 American companies operating in the region, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing, with a deadline of 8 p.m. Tehran time on Wednesday. Trump said he was unconcerned.

Attacks continued on both sides. Drones struck fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport, causing a large blaze, while Bahrain reported a fire at a company facility following an Iranian attack. A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile near Doha, damaging its hull at the waterline, though its crew were reported safe. In Tehran, explosions were heard in multiple areas after overnight US-Israeli air strikes, with Iran’s largest passenger terminal at Bandar Abbas also struck.

A widening war

Now in its fifth week, the conflict is spreading beyond its original boundaries. Yemen’s Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, has begun launching missiles at Israel. Hezbollah has re-entered the fight from Lebanon, where at least seven people were killed and 24 wounded in two Israeli strikes in the Beirut area on Wednesday. Israel said it targeted senior Hezbollah commanders but did not confirm whether they had been killed.

Israel’s military said it had carried out more than 800 strike sorties against Iranian targets since the war began, deploying 16,000 munitions against 5,000 identified targets.

Domestically, the war is increasingly a political liability for Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe the US should end its involvement quickly, even at the cost of not achieving the administration’s stated objectives. Rising fuel prices are weighing on household finances ahead of November’s midterm elections — and Rubio used the moment to take a swipe at European allies, warning that after the conflict ends, Washington would “reexamine” its relationship with NATO. “NATO is a one-way street,” he said.

The UAE, meanwhile, is preparing to help the US and its allies reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force, the Wall Street Journal reported, and is seeking a UN Security Council resolution to authorise the action.