Trump: US to Withdraw from Iran War Soon, But...
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - US President Donald Trump has stated that the Iran war will soon be ended, although Washington is open to the possibility of launching limited strikes again if necessary. Trump made the statement to Reuters on Wednesday (1 April 2026), just a few hours before he is scheduled to deliver a national address.
Trump said that in the address scheduled for 21:00 EDT or 08:00 WIB on Thursday (2 April 2026), he will also announce that he is considering withdrawing the United States from NATO. This step is driven by his view that the alliance failed to support Washington in the war against Iran.
Since 28 February, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the conflict has spread to various regions. Those attacks triggered Iran’s retaliation against Israel, US bases, and Gulf countries, while also opening a new front in Lebanon. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed across the Middle East since the conflict broke out.
Facing a US public that is growing weary of the war, Trump is expected to state that the US military has achieved the war’s objectives. A White House official said the president will emphasise this in his address.
Nevertheless, the chances of the fighting ending in the near term remain unclear. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran demands guarantees of a ceasefire before stopping its attacks.
He also said there are no talks through intermediaries regarding a temporary ceasefire. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that US intelligence agencies assess that Iran is currently unwilling to engage in substantial negotiations to end the war.
Amid the conflict, global economic institutions have warned of widespread impacts.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and International Energy Agency (IEA) stated on Wednesday that the war is causing “major, global, and highly uneven” impacts. They said they will coordinate a response, including possible financial support for the most affected countries.
When asked when the US will consider the Iran war over, Trump replied, “I cannot tell you for certain … we will get out quite quickly.”
A White House official later said Trump is expected to reiterate a timeline of two to three weeks to end the Iran war in his address.
Trump also emphasised that US military actions have ensured Iran will not have nuclear weapons.
“They will not have nuclear weapons because they are now incapable of it, and then I will leave, and I will take everyone with me, and if we have to, we will return to carry out limited strikes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a letter addressed to the American people, said his country harbours no hostility towards ordinary US citizens. The statement was reported by Press TV.