President Donald Trump has said the United States will end its involvement in the Iran conflict soon, whether or not a formal agreement is reached with Tehran.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump described a deal with Iran as “irrelevant,” insisting that the US would withdraw once it is confident Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon for years.
“We’ll be leaving very soon,” he said, adding that the timeline could be “within two weeks, maybe three.”
His comments signal a shift away from diplomacy as a necessary condition for ending the conflict.
When asked directly if a deal was required, Trump responded: “No, they don’t have to make a deal.”
The White House later announced that the president will address the nation in a primetime speech on Wednesday, where he is expected to outline the next steps.
Earlier, Trump also took aim at US allies, including United Kingdom, urging them to take more responsibility for securing their own energy supplies.
In a post on Truth Social, he told countries affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to “go get your own oil,” warning that the US would no longer step in as it had in the past.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint in the conflict, with shipping routes disrupted and no country yet willing to directly challenge Iran’s control over the area.
Meanwhile, fighting continues across the region. Airstrikes have hit parts of Beirut, with Israel saying it is targeting senior figures linked to Hezbollah.
The conflict, now in its fifth week, has already claimed thousands of lives most of them in Iran and Lebanon while civilians in affected areas say they are living in constant fear.
At the same time, the UK is sending additional troops and air defence systems to the Middle East as a precaution against further Iranian attacks.
Despite ongoing discussions about negotiations, there is little sign of a breakthrough, and tensions remain high as both sides continue to trade threats and military strikes.
