President Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States could potentially conclude its military operations against Iran within the next two to three weeks, hinting at a resolution to the month-long conflict that has caused turmoil in the Middle East and impacted global energy markets.
During a speech at the White House, Trump stated, “We’ll be departing very soon,” suggesting that the withdrawal might occur “in two weeks, perhaps in three,” as reported by Reuters. This statement served as his most explicit indication yet that the US is getting ready to phase out the operation.
Trump emphasized that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran was not a prerequisite for ending the conflict. He mentioned, “Iran doesn’t need to strike a deal, no,” and added, “No, they don’t need to negotiate with me.”
He further stated that the military campaign would only cease once Iran had been incapacitated to the point where it could no longer swiftly advance its nuclear capabilities. “Then we will depart,” Trump affirmed.
Later, the White House disclosed that Trump would deliver a national address at 9 pm on Wednesday (6.30 am Thursday IST) to provide a significant update on the situation with Iran.
Previously, Washington had cautioned that military actions could escalate if Tehran declined to accept a 15-point ceasefire proposal presented by the US. The proposal included demands such as Iran committing to refrain from pursuing nuclear weapons, completely stopping uranium enrichment, and fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned on Tuesday that President Trump was willing to engage in negotiations with Iran to bring an end to the war, which has resulted in numerous casualties, spread across the region, disrupted energy resources, and raised concerns about a potential global economic crisis.
In a separate development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened to target major US technology and industrial corporations starting from April 1, citing retaliation for attacks on Iranian soil. The statement identified 18 companies, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing, cautioning that their operations in the region could be impacted.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that he has been receiving direct messages from the US, although he clarified that these interactions do not constitute formal negotiations, as Iran maintains a firm stance on ending the conflict.
Araghchi disclosed to Al Jazeera that communication has been established with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, albeit mostly through indirect channels.