Donald Trump said the military could end its Iran offensive in two to three weeks and will shift responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to countries that rely on it for oil and shipping.
While thousands of additional US troops are headed to the region, both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemed optimistic an end was coming, with Rubio saying Tuesday he could see a ‘finish line.’
Trump predicted the US will be done with the conflict ‘within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job. But we want to knock out every single thing they have.’
Despite repeatedly listing four or five objectives for the war, Trump said he ‘had one goal: They will have no nuclear weapon and that goal has been attained.
‘We have had regime change. Now, regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal,’ the commander in chief noted.
Trump said that the US is ‘finishing the job’ and may strike a deal with Iran before the next few weeks are up but said, if not, ‘We’ll hit some bridges, got a couple of nice bridges in mind. But if they come to the table, that’ll be good.’
The president expressed frustration Tuesday with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the US war effort, telling them to ‘go get your own oil.’
Donald Trump said the military could end its Iran offensive in two to three weeks and will shift responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to countries that rely on it for oil and shipping
A digger removes the debris following damage to a residential building, in the Iranian capital
The president started his Tuesday by fuming on social media at France and Britain – two of America’s closest allies – while calling on the world to ‘Go get your own oil!’ and ‘start learning how to fight for yourself.’
‘All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,’ Trump posted.
Minutes later, he went after France, claiming the country was ‘very unhelpful’ as it ‘wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory.’
Trump recently vacillated between insisting there is progress in diplomatic talks with Iran and threatening to widen the war.
He said the US ‘will not have anything to do with’ what happens next in the vital waterway that has been closed by the Islamic Republic.
Instead, he told reporters, the responsibility for keeping the strait open will rest with countries that rely on it.
Gulf states rely on the waterway for both exports and imports, including food, and 20 percent of the world’s oil supply flows through it.
US gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war continues to push fuel prices higher worldwide.
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Should America expect its allies to join the Iran war, or is it time for the US to go it alone?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemed optimistic an end was coming, with Rubio saying Tuesday he could see a ‘finish line’
Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble after a strike in southern Tehran
Analysts say those high fuel costs will trickle into groceries as businesses’ transportation and packaging costs pile up.
The president will provide further update on the war efforts in an address to the nation at 9pm ET Wednesday.
Rubio said on Tuesday 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’ ‘Hannity.’
Rubio said there were messages being exchanged between Iran and the US and there is the potential to have 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 direct meeting at some point,’ Rubio said.
Rubio said ‘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 Washington will have to reexamine its relations with NATO after the Iran war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told Al Jazeera that they were not setting any benchmarks to end the war
While he said Tehran continues to not directly negotiate with Washington, directly contradicting Trump, he said that they have gotten messages from US envoy Steve Witkoff
‘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.
European leaders have refused to get directly involved in military attacks against Iran.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told Al Jazeera that they were not setting any benchmarks to end the war.
‘We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required,’ he said.
Aragchi added that Trump or Rubio’s deadlines are irrelevant to them.
‘It does not matter what timelines our enemies set for themselves. However, our recommendation is that they bring this war to a complete and permanent end before facing further damage.’
While he said Tehran continues to not directly negotiate with Washington, directly contradicting Trump, he said that they have gotten messages from US envoy Steve Witkoff.
‘Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between us and the United States,’ Araghchi said.
The war began on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran.
Tehran responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states with US bases.
