Trump says the United States could end the war against Iran within two to three weeks

The United States will end their war against Iran quite quickly and may return for “surgical strikes” if necessary, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, a few hours before his prime-time address to the nation. Trump also specified that he would announce during this speech, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday (1:00 a.m. GMT on Thursday), that he was considering withdrawing the United States from the NATO alliance.

Asked about when the United States would consider the war in Iran to be over, Trump replied, “I can’t tell you exactly… we will be out very quickly.” American action has ensured that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, he claimed: “They will not have nuclear weapons because they are incapable of doing so now, then I will leave, and I will take everyone with me, and if we have to, we will come back for surgical strikes.”

GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY IMPACTED

Global oil supply is expected to be twice as affected this month as in March, the International Energy Agency declared on Wednesday, underscoring the urgency of ending the conflict Trump initiated with Israel on February 28. Trump separately stated on social media that Iran had requested a ceasefire, but he would not consider it until Tehran stopped blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for fuel transportation. No immediate Iranian comment was made.

Two security sources in Pakistan, which is mediating in the conflict, previously told Reuters that Islamabad had proposed a temporary ceasefire to both parties, but had received no response from either of them. Trump signaled that he could end the war within a few weeks, even without an agreement, and intensified his threats to withdraw the United States from the NATO defense alliance if European countries did not help prevent Iran from threatening the waterway. In his remarks to Reuters, Trump declared that he would express his disgust with NATO for what he sees as the alliance’s lack of support for American goals in Iran. He stated that he was “absolutely” considering a U.S. withdrawal from NATO.

European states have tried to appear unfazed, and the delegate to the Minister of Defense, Alice Rufo, stated that NATO operations in the Strait of Hormuz would constitute a violation of international law. Trump will address the nation on Iran

On Tuesday, Trump stated that he could leave Iran within two or three weeks even without an agreement, highlighting the growing concern about a conflict that has killed thousands, spread across the region, and caused unprecedented disruptions in energy supplies. The director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said the main issue resulting from Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz was the shortage of kerosene and diesel. “We see this in Asia, but soon, I think, in April or May, this will happen in Europe,” Birol stated during a podcast with Nicolai Tangen, the leader of the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund. The oil loss in April would be double that recorded in March, he clarified. Businesses worldwide have been affected by the conflict, with the cosmetics and textile sectors being among the latest to report difficulties.

The United States had threatened to escalate operations if Tehran did not accept a 15-point American ceasefire framework demanding that Iran not pursue nuclear weapons or uranium enrichment and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” program that there was potential for a “direct meeting at some point” and that the United States could “see the finish line.” “This is not for today, it’s not for tomorrow, but it’s coming,” Rubio added.