Trump signals quick exit from Iran war as mixed messages deepen uncertainty

US President Donald Trump says Washington could stop its attacks on Iran within two to three weeks, suggesting a deal is not necessary to wind down a conflict that has already rattled energy markets and the broader global economy.

His comments mark a shift in tone. After previously insisting that Iran was seeking negotiations, Trump said on Tuesday that diplomacy is not a prerequisite for ending the war.

“Iran doesn’t have to make a deal, no,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that the US would be “leaving very soon … maybe two weeks, maybe three.”

He framed the timeline around military objectives rather than negotiations.

“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, then we’ll leave,” he said.

At the same time, signals from Tehran point in the opposite direction. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there are no negotiations under way with Washington, despite ongoing indirect exchanges of messages nearly five weeks into the war.

The gap between those positions reflects a broader pattern: parallel tracks of pressure and communication that have yet to converge into a clear diplomatic path.

Wow, we’re likely going to hear that it’s going to take another three weeks.”

On the economic front, the war is already feeding into domestic pressure. Petrol prices in the US have climbed above $4 per gallon as Iran’s actions in the Gulf and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz tighten supply.

Trump has responded by escalating rhetoric towards allies who have declined to support military operations in the region. In a post on Truth Social, he criticised countries, “like the United Kingdom”, for staying out of the conflict.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” he said.

Tensions have also surfaced with France, after Trump accused it of being “VERY UNHELPFUL” by restricting the use of its airspace for military operations. French officials said their position has remained unchanged since the start of the conflict.

The strain extends beyond rhetoric. US officials have openly questioned the level of support from NATO partners, raising the prospect of broader reassessments within the alliance.

At the strategic level, the conflict’s scope continues to expand. While Washington signals that its objectives are close to being met, analysts point out that control over key flashpoints like the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved.

Parsi argued that the current framing risks overstating progress while leaving core issues unaddressed.

“The US has the largest and most powerful navy in the world. If the US cannot do it, what difference can the French make and other Europeans going in?” he said, suggesting Iran is likely to maintain pressure on the waterway.

He also described Trump’s rhetoric about degrading Iran’s capabilities as aligning with a broader strategy of periodic weakening rather than a clearly defined end state.

“This is a ‘mowing the lawn‘ strategy,” he added.