President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US would be “out of Iran pretty quickly” and could carry out “spot hits” if needed ahead of his scheduled address to the nation.
With the war entering its fifth week and mounting pressure over an exit strategy amid rising oil prices, Trump is expected to outline the way forward in his address.
When asked how the US would determine the end of the Iran war, Trump told Reuters, “I can’t tell you exactly... We’re going to be out pretty quickly.”
The US President added that in his primetime address scheduled for 9 pm (local time), he would signal that he is considering withdrawing the US from Nato, citing what he described as the alliance’s lack of support for US objectives in Iran.
Trump said he was “absolutely” weighing such a move and would also voice his frustration with Nato allies. "They haven't been friends when we needed them," Trump said. "We've never asked them for much. It's a one-way street," he said.
He further asserted that US military action had ensured Iran would not be able to develop a nuclear weapon.
"They won't have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable of that now, and then I'll leave, and I'll take everybody with me, and if we have to we'll come back to do spot hits," he said.
Iran has consistently denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons, maintaining that its programme is entirely peaceful.
During the interview, Trump, however, said he was optimistic about striking a deal with Iran’s new leadership following airstrikes that killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“We have had full regime change,” Trump said, adding that there was a strong chance of an agreement as “they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”
He added that while regime change was not his original objective, it had occurred as a consequence of the war. “The big thing we have is they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, claiming Iran neither has the capability now nor the intent to pursue one.
On Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, Trump said it was “so far underground” that it was not an immediate concern, adding that the US would continue to monitor it closely via satellite surveillance.
Tehran has rejected claims of direct negotiations, saying only limited messages have been exchanged with Washington through intermediaries, casting doubt on Trump’s claim.
Trump’s latest remarks came hours after he claimed Iran’s new leadership had reached out for a ceasefire, but stressed that Washington would only consider it if the vital oil transit route is reopened to global shipping. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear,” he said, linking any pause in hostilities to maritime security.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor through which roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes, has become a major flashpoint after Iran moved to restrict traffic following US and Israeli strikes.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strait remains “firmly and dominantly” under its control, adding it would not be reopened “to the enemies of this nation” in response to what it called the US President’s “ridiculous displays.”
The US has warned it could escalate military operations if Iran refuses a proposed 15-point ceasefire framework that calls for halting nuclear weapons ambitions, ending uranium enrichment and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
On Tuesday, Trump said the US could withdraw from Iran within two to three weeks even without a deal, underscoring growing concern over a conflict that has killed thousands, spread across the region, and triggered severe energy disruptions.
Source: Reuters
