U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would leave Iran “very soon,” within “two or three weeks,” regardless of whether an agreement is reached, adding that the Strait of Hormuz—closed by Tehran—is no longer his concern.
More than a month after the outbreak of war, which began with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and expanded across the Middle East—shaking the global economy and causing thousands of deaths—there are no clear signs of de-escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened to target major American technology companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Tesla if more Iranian leaders are “assassinated” in the ongoing conflict. In a statement, it warned that these companies should expect the destruction of their facilities for every assassination carried out in Iran, starting at 8:00 p.m. (16:30 GMT) on Wednesday, April 1.
Trump has sent mixed signals regarding whether Washington will escalate the war—possibly by deploying U.S. ground troops—or seek a swift end through negotiations with Tehran. While he warned on Monday of “wiping out” Iran’s strategic Khark Island and other targets if no deal is reached, he appeared to soften his stance on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office in response to rising fuel prices, Trump said, “All I have to do is leave Iran, and we will do that very soon,” indicating a timeline of “two or perhaps three weeks.” He added, “We are finishing the job, and I think we’ll get it done in about two weeks, or maybe a few days longer.”
Trump also stated that ending U.S. operations is not contingent on reaching an agreement with Iran, which responded to the U.S.-Israeli attacks by closing the vital Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic. “They don’t have to make a deal with me… When we feel they can no longer produce a nuclear weapon, then we will leave. Whether we reach a deal or not doesn’t matter,” he said.
He further renewed calls for countries seeking oil to secure it themselves via the Strait of Hormuz, after many allies declined U.S. requests for military assistance to reopen the waterway. “We will have nothing to do with what happens in the Strait, because these countries—China, for example—will go there and fuel their ships… They’ll manage. There is no reason for us to get involved,” he added.
Earlier, Trump criticized countries that refused to assist the United States in securing the strategic waterway, writing on Truth Social: “The United States will no longer be there for you, just as you were not there for us. Most of Iran has been destroyed. The hardest part is over. Go and get your oil yourselves.”
The White House announced that Trump will deliver a national address at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday) regarding the war against Iran.
“Decisive Days”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday evening that Israel will continue its military campaign and press on with efforts to “crush the regime in Iran,” stressing that the war, ongoing for more than a month, is “not over.”
His remarks came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran has the “will to end the war,” but seeks guarantees to prevent a repeat of “aggression.”
In a televised statement, Netanyahu said, “The campaign is not over… We will continue to crush the regime. We will strengthen our security zones and achieve our objectives,” referring to areas where Israeli forces operate beyond its borders, including Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. He added, “We have made Israel a regional power and, in some respects, a global power. We have changed the face of the Middle East.”
According to Pezeshkian’s office, he told European Council President Antonio Costa during a phone call that Iran is willing to end the war with Israel and the United States, provided that “basic conditions” are met—especially guarantees to prevent renewed attacks.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Washington, after inspecting American forces in the Middle East over the weekend, that “the coming days will be decisive. Iran knows this and has almost no military capability left to respond.”
When asked about potential next steps, he said, “You cannot fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing—or not willing—to do, including deploying ground troops.”
“Does Not Mean We Are Negotiating”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, “I receive direct messages from (U.S. envoy Steve) Witkoff, as before, but this does not mean we are in negotiations.”
Later in the evening, multiple explosions were heard in central Tehran, with Iranian media reporting that two major steel complexes were targeted. Earlier, the Iranian government said a pharmaceutical company and a desalination plant on Qeshm Island had been hit.
The European Union called on Iran to ensure “freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, after an Iranian parliamentary committee approved a bill imposing transit fees on vessels passing through the strait, according to Iranian state television. The legislation also includes a ban on U.S. and Israeli ships.
In Lebanon, at least seven people were killed in Israeli strikes targeting Beirut and a car on a main road south of the city late Tuesday, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it had targeted a “senior Hezbollah leader.”
Three powerful explosions were heard after midnight in Beirut, AFP journalists reported, while Lebanon’s National News Agency said they were caused by Israeli naval shelling on the Jnah area, adjacent to Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that five people were killed and 21 injured in the strike on Jnah. Another Israeli strike targeting a car on a highway in Khaldeh, south of Beirut, killed two people, according to the same source.
The Israeli army stated in a release: “A short while ago, in two separate strikes in the Beirut area, Israeli forces targeted a senior Hezbollah commander as well as a prominent operative,” without clarifying whether the latter belonged to Hezbollah.
AFP
