Trump Says Iran War Will Be Over in "Two or Three Weeks" — With or Without a Deal

Trump: "We'll Be Leaving Very Soon"

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, President Trump said he expects U.S. military forces to depart Iran within "two or three weeks" — and that a formal negotiated settlement is no longer a prerequisite for ending the war.

"We leave because there's no reason for us to do this," Trump said. "We'll be leaving very soon."

In a significant shift from prior framing, Trump dismissed the need for Iran to sign a deal: "Iran doesn't have to make a deal. It's a new regime. They are much more accessible."

"No, they don't have to make a deal with me when we feel that they are, for a long period of time, put into the Stone Ages, and they won't be able to come up with a nuclear weapon," Trump said. "Then we'll leave whether we have a deal or not. It's irrelevant now."

Hours later, the White House announced Trump will deliver a nationally televised address "to the nation to provide an important update on Iran" at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. The address is expected to lay out the administration's endgame — though whether it announces a ceasefire, a withdrawal timeline, or a declaration of mission accomplished remains to be seen.

What "Victory Without a Deal" Means

Trump's framing suggests Washington may declare the war's objectives met — Iran's nuclear program set back, the country's military infrastructure degraded, the regime changed — without requiring Tehran to formally agree to American terms.

The original stated goal was to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Trump had privately told aides he was willing to end the war even if Hormuz stays closed. Tuesday's public comments confirm that posture is now official.

For Iran, this framing represents both an exit ramp and a humiliation. The new post-Khamenei regime in Tehran — which Trump referred to as "much more accessible" — can claim it never capitulated, while the U.S. can claim it accomplished its mission. Whether the Strait of Hormuz actually reopens under these circumstances remains the central unresolved question for global energy markets.

Overnight: Missiles, Sirens, and One Death in UAE

While Trump signaled wind-down, the war showed no signs of cooling on the ground overnight into Wednesday.

Iran strikes central Israel: The Israeli military said its air defenses responded to a missile attack from Iran, with warning sirens activated across central Israel. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," a military statement said. No casualties were reported from the strike itself.

Houthis' third attack: Houthi forces in Yemen claimed responsibility for their third missile barrage at Israel during the conflict, describing it as a joint operation carried out "in conjunction with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon." The Houthis said they targeted "sensitive Israeli enemy targets" with ballistic missiles and threatened "further escalation" if attacks on Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, the West Bank, and Gaza continue. The Israeli military confirmed intercepting the missile, with no injuries reported.

Death in UAE: One person — a Bangladeshi national — was killed after debris from an intercepted drone fell on a farm in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, according to UAE state media. The incident underscores the growing collateral risk in Gulf states from the war's air activity, even when interceptions are successful.

Macron's Broadside from Tokyo

French President Emmanuel Macron, visiting Japan on Wednesday, offered a pointed contrast to American unpredictability without naming Trump directly. Speaking to Japanese business leaders and investors in Tokyo, Macron praised Europe's "predictability" and warned against countries that could "hurt you without even informing you."

"I'm well aware that sometimes Europe can be seen as a continent that is slower than others," Macron said. "But predictability has value, and we have demonstrated that over all these past years and, dare I say, even these past weeks."

The remarks were an apparent reference to the Iran war, which has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway Japan relies on for its energy imports. Trump had criticized France on Tuesday for being "very unhelpful" during the war. Japan, a major U.S. ally with enormous energy exposure to the Gulf, has been caught between its dependence on American security guarantees and the economic damage being inflicted by American policy.

The April 6 Deadline and Wednesday's Address

Trump had previously set an April 6 deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. That deadline is now five days away. His comments Tuesday suggest that deadline may be quietly retired — superseded by the "two or three weeks" withdrawal timeline regardless of outcome.

Wednesday's national address will be Trump's first major public statement on the war in days. It could announce a ceasefire, a formal end to U.S. military operations, or a declaration that the mission has been accomplished. It could also simply reiterate the timeline without a definitive conclusion.

Markets in Asia opened higher on the news. Brent crude extended its pullback from recent highs. The arithmetic is stark: if the U.S. exits the theater in two to three weeks, the primary driver of the Hormuz closure — Iranian retaliation against U.S. military pressure — loses its logic. Whether Iran actually reopens the strait then depends entirely on what Tehran decides it needs from the post-war order.

The War in Numbers (32 Days)

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began February 28 with strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. As of March 31:

• Estimated dead: ~1,937 in Iran, at least 19 in Israel, 13 U.S. soldiers, 25+ in Gulf states
• Oil price: Brent crude up ~59% in March alone — record monthly gain
• U.S. gas prices: above $4 per gallon for first time since 2022
• Ships stranded in Gulf: ~2,000
• Energy assets severely damaged: 40+
• Iran internet blackout: 32nd consecutive day

Whether the war ends in two weeks or two months, those numbers represent damage that will take far longer to unwind.