Donald Trump says US could end the Iran war in two to three weeks: 'Deal not a prerequisite'
President Trump also clarified that reaching a deal was not a prerequisite for the United States to end ‘Operation Epic Fury,' the military campaign against Iran that it began over a month ago.
US President Donald Trump has said the US could end its military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks. Tehran, the US President said, did not have to make a deal as a prerequisite for the war to end.
"We'll be leaving very soon," President Trump was quoted by news agency Reuters as telling reporters at the White House on 31 March (Local Time).
Trump added the exit could take place "within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three."
It's been over a month since the West Asia war began with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the military strikes on 28 February.
In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, causing further disruptions to the waterway and impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Deal not a prerequisite, says Trump
Trump also clarified on Tuesday that a deal was not a prerequisite for the US to end “Operation Epic Fury” – the term used for the military strikes on Iran.
"Iran doesn't have to make a deal, no," he said. "No, they don't have to make a deal with me."
The fresh remarks are clearly a shift from the earlier stand by the US President. On Monday, Trump warned Iran that if a deal was not finalised in the near term and the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened, the US could escalate its response. He said, in a Truth Social post, this could include strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure, including power facilities, oil fields, Kharg Island, and possibly desalination plants, targets he claimed had so far been deliberately avoided.
On Tuesday, in another strong-worded Truth Social post, President Donald Trump publicly attacked two of America’s closest allies — the United Kingdom and France — for refusing to join US military action against Iran.
President Trump accused France of blocking US supply planes and called the UK “cowardly” for not helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned both nations they can no longer count on American support, telling them to “build up some delayed courage” and “go get your own oil.”
France and Italy have pushed back against some U.S.-Israeli military operations, sources said, highlighting how divisions between NATO allies have been exposed by the war.
US prepared to continue the war if, says Hegseth
Earlier in the day, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump was willing to make a deal with Iran to end the war that has killed thousands, spread across the region, disrupted energy supplies and threatened to send the global economy into a tailspin.
Talks were ongoing and gaining strength, Hegseth said, but the US was prepared to continue the war if Iran did not comply. "We have more and more options, and they have less ... in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive," Hegseth said in Washington.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday hit back with a new threat against US companies in the region starting on Wednesday. It listed 18 businesses, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla and Boeing, that would be targeted from 8 PM Tehran time.
On these threats to the companies, President Trump said, "They don't have much left to threaten," he said of Iran.
Getting direct messages from Steve Witkoff: Abbas Araqchi
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday he has been receiving direct messages from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but they do not constitute "negotiations", according to Al Jazeera TV.
The messages include threats or exchanged views delivered through "friends," the Iranian leader said.
US General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that the US military was continuing to strike key manufacturing and research sites and had taken out over 150 Iranian naval vessels.
Iran has remained defiant despite heavy US and Israeli attacks for the past month, as neighbours have been pulled into the conflict. Heavy strikes were reported in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday evening, Reuters said, quoting sources.
(With inputs from agencies, Reuters)
About the Author
Gulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience.<br><br> Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times.<br><br> Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership.<br><br> Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter.<br><br> Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.
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