Trump's Stance Changes Dramatically, Iran War Set to End—This Is the Time
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - US President Donald Trump has stated that military operations against Iran could be halted in the relatively near future, marking the clearest indication so far that the conflict, which has lasted a month, may be entering its final phase.
“We will be leaving soon,” he said on Tuesday (31/3/2026) local time. He added that the withdrawal could occur “in two weeks, perhaps two weeks, perhaps three.”
The statement serves as the strongest signal from Trump that he intends to end the war, which over the past month has altered the geopolitical map of the Middle East, shaken global energy markets, and influenced the direction of his presidency as a Republican candidate.
Trump also stressed that halting military operations does not necessarily depend on achieving a diplomatic agreement with Tehran. When asked if diplomatic success was a primary condition for ending the conflict, he replied firmly.
“Iran does not have to make a deal, no,” he said. “No, they do not have to make a deal with me.”
Instead, Trump stated that the main condition for Washington to end the military campaign is to significantly weaken Iran’s capabilities, particularly regarding the potential development of nuclear weapons.
According to him, Iran must be “sent back to the Stone Age,” so that it no longer has the ability to quickly acquire nuclear weapons. “Then we will leave,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, a slightly different tone was expressed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stated that the conflict could escalate sharply if Tehran does not agree to a peace deal.
“We have more and more options, and they have fewer and fewer. In just one month we have set the terms, the next few days will be decisive,” Hegseth said in Washington.
“Iran knows that, and there is almost nothing they can do militarily about it,” he added.
The statement was immediately countered by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which issued new threats against US companies in the region starting Wednesday. The Revolutionary Guard named 18 businesses, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing, as potential targets.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he received a direct message from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but stressed that it was not an official negotiation.
He said the message included threats or an exchange of views delivered through a “friend”.