United States (U.S) President Donald Trump has stated that the current war engagement against Iran is ending soon.
Addressing reporters at the White House, the President claimed that the war against Iran ending in a matter of weeks is now a distinct reality, citing the success of “Operation Epic Fury” in neutralizing key strategic threats.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the United States is finishing the job in Iran.
“But we’re finishing the job,” he insisted.
“We want to knock out every single thing they have,” Trump said, before adding that “we may make a deal before that.”
The White House also said he would address the nation at 0100 GMT Thursday “to provide an important update on Iran”.
Earlier, Iranian leader Masoud Pezeshkian told the head of the European Council the country had “the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met — especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression”.
The latest development comes just a few days aftee Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating he is prepared to blow up the country’s energy infrastructure if a comprehensive ceasefire and maritime agreement are not reached immediately.
Trump who took to his social media account on Monday emphasized that his patience with the “hostile regime” has reached its limit following recent skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the comments from the two leaders, oil prices fell as they are now back down below $100 a barrel as of press time.
After Trump’s statement about the Iran war potentially ending “very soon”, Brent crude fell to $99.32.
European stock markets have opened higher. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 1.7%. Germany’s DAX is ahead by 2.5%, and in France, the CAC has risen by 2.1%.
Oil prices have been extremely volatile during the five weeks of the US-Israel war with Iran.
This also comes as Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected claims that any direct talks are underway, and dismissed a proposal from the White House laying out 15 points for a ceasefire deal as “excessive and unreasonable,” raising doubts that any common ground might be quickly found.
“Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing imposed war,” the official said, according to the English-language broadcaster Press TV.
“The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion.”
Recall also that since the war began, multiple tiers of the Iranian government, from the Supreme Council down to regional IRGC commanders, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been neutralized.
