President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US could end its military campaign against Iran within two to three weeks.
"We'll be leaving very soon," he told reporters in the White House's Oval Office, adding that the exit could take place "within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three."
The declaration was Trump's clearest to date that he intends to soon end a month-long war that has reordered the Middle East, disrupted global energy markets, and changed the trajectory of the Republican's presidency.
'Iran doesn't have to make a deal'
Trump added that Tehran does not have to make a deal with Washington to end the conflict.
"Iran doesn't have to make a deal, no," he said when asked if successful diplomacy was a prerequisite to the US winding down the conflict. "No, they don't have to make a deal with me."
Instead, Trump said, the requirement for winding down the operation was that Iran be "put into the stone ages," without the ability to soon acquire a nuclear weapon.
"Then we'll leave," he said.
Hegseth declines to give timeline to end war in Iran
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth stated that the upcoming days of Operation Epic Fury would be "decisive."
When asked about the potential duration of the war, Hegseth refused to give a concrete timeline.
“He [Trump] said four to six weeks, six to eight weeks, three - It could be any particular number, but we would never reveal precisely what it is, because our goal is to finish those objectives, and we’re well on our way,” he said.
Iran yet to respond to US 15-point proposal
Iran has yet to respond to the president’s 15-point proposal, according to two sources familiar with the details who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.
One reason is an ongoing dispute at the highest levels of government between hardliners, such as Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi and Parliament Speaker Qalibaf, and figures seen as relatively more moderate, including President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi. For now, the hardliners appear to have the upper hand.
In Israel, officials assess that Iran’s response, if and when it comes, will make negotiations more difficult. At the same time, President Donald Trump has said in various interviews that the talks are progressing well.
Rubio says US 'can see the finish line' of war with Iran
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said later Tuesday that Washington could see the "finish line" in the Iran war, which is now in its fifth week, and the US will have to reexamine ties with NATO after the conflict.
"We can see the finish line. It's not today, it's not tomorrow, but it is coming," Rubio told Fox News. He then said there were messages being exchanged between Iran and the US, and that there is potential for a "direct meeting at some point" between the two sides.
"There are messages being exchanged, there are talks going on. There is the potential for a direct meeting at some point," Rubio said, adding that "there's nothing any government is doing, or any country in the world is doing now to help Iran that is in any way impeding our mission."
He added that Washington will have to reexamine its relations with NATO after the Iran war.
"Ultimately, that's a decision for the president to make, and he'll have to make it," Rubio said. "But I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to reexamine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose, or has it now become a one-way street where America is simply in a position to defend Europe, but when we need the help of our allies, they're going to deny us basing rights, and they're going to deny us overflight," he added in reference to use of military bases.
