President Donald Trump has claimed that the US could leave the Iran war with or without a deal as he insisted that the war would be over in two or three weeks.
His statement comes after Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that no negotiations were ongoing with Washington despite direct and indirect exchanges of messages.
Trump told reporters that “Iran doesn’t have to make a deal” to end the conflict, adding that “we'll be leaving very soon”. He gave a timeline for the US withdrawing from the conflict as “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three.”
The US leader said the requirement for winding down the operation was that Iran be "put into the Stone Age," without the ability to soon acquire a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, missile and drone attacks continued from both sides on Wednesday morning, with the Houthis launching a barrage of attacks aimed at Israel.
Kuwait said an Iranian drone attack sparked a “large fire” after striking fuel tanks at its international airport. Wednesday’s attack caused significant damage to airport fuel tanks belonging to the Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company, according to state media reports.
Recommended
The key shipping route under Houthi threat that could have a seismic impact on global economy
Four million people across the Gulf could be pushed into poverty by war in Iran, UN warns
Trump will ‘negotiate with bombs’ and lead the free world — whether it likes it or not, Hegseth vows
This ‘US invasion’ video in the Middle East is fake | Debunked
Iranian ambassador suggests Tehran could strike British bases
Tehran is “considering” whether British bases are legitimate targets in the unfolding Middle East conflict, the Iranian ambassador to the UK has warned.
The UK has been allowing the United States to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to launch operations against Iran – something Seyed Ali Mousavi described as being “very unfortunate”.
Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “The initial position made by prime minister Starmer is very good.
“We do appreciate [it], we do welcome the non-involvement in this criminal act of the American side and the Israeli regime.
“But unfortunately, now we have realised that the British Fairford military base has been serving for the B2 and B1, you know, jets of the American side to be equipped by the different weapons to use against the Iranian people. It’s very unfortunate.”
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Iranian ambassador suggests Tehran could strike British bases
Seyed Ali Mousavi said Iranian military authorities ‘will decide appropriately’ what course of action they will take, adding any final decision ‘depends on’ UK activitiesMaira Butt1 April 2026 08:45
Oil prices fall as Trump declares war will end 'very soon'
Oil prices have dropped after President Donald Trump announced that the US-Israeli war against Iran would end “very soon”, and suggested it could be as soon as two or three weeks.
Prices have fallen 3 per cent to just above $100 a barrel, but remain 39 per cent higher than before the war.
Qatar 'targeted by Iranian missiles'
Qatar has also claimed it was targeted by three Iranian missiles on Wednesday.
A statement from the defence ministry on X says two cruise missiles were intercepted but a third struck an oil tanker in its waters.
The tanker, carrying a crew of 21, was evacuated without any casualties reported.
James Reynolds1 April 2026 08:02
In pictures: Chaos in Israel amid Iranian bombardment
James Reynolds1 April 2026 07:58
Houthis claim attack on Israel with Iran and Hezbollah
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed a joint attack on Israel with missiles they say was carried out in conjunction with Iran and Hezbollah.
James Reynolds1 April 2026 07:35
This ‘US invasion’ video in the Middle East is fake | Debunked
This viral video claiming to show US military deployment to the Middle East is completely fake.
It’s not troops preparing for a ground invasion of Iran – instead, it is AI-generated footage. The clip has been shared as “proof” that thousands of troops are preparing for a ground invasion.
While the US has repositioned assets, officials deny any decision on ground forces. Analysis flagged the video as synthetic, and its creator labeled it a “realistic simulation.”
More here.
This ‘US Invasion’ video in the Middle East is fake | Debunked
This viral video claiming to show US military deployment to the Middle East is completely fake. It’s not troops preparing for a ground invasion of Iran – instead, it is AI-generated footage. The clip has been shared as “proof” that thousands of troops are preparing for a ground invasion. While the US has repositioned assets, officials deny any decision on ground forces. Analysis flagged the video as synthetic, and its creator labeled it a “realistic simulation.” Experts at Resemble AI identified synthetic audio artifacts, inconsistent facial and gear details, and repeating background patterns – common flaws in AI video generation – showing how such misinformation spreads rapidly during geopolitical tensions today. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 April 2026 07:29
Israel strikes building near Beirut's international airport
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 April 2026 07:10
Asian stocks rally as Trump says US will leave Iran
Asian stock markets jumped sharply Wednesday after Donald Trump said the U.S. would exit the war with Iran within two to three weeks, with or without a deal, raising hopes that the month-long conflict that has roiled global energy markets may be nearing its end.
South Korea's Kospi surged 6.4 percent in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 4 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.9 percent, and Taiwan's Taiex was up 4.3 percent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.7 percent. India's BSE Sensex jumped more than 1,800 points in early trade, with broad-based buying across banking, financials and technology stocks.
Both the Nikkei and Kospi, however, remain below the levels at which they were trading before the war began on February 28. A survey by Japan's central bank released Wednesday showed business sentiment among major manufacturers had improved despite war-related concerns.
More here.
Asian stocks rally as Trump says US will leave Iran war in ‘two to three weeks’
Trump says Iran ‘begging to make a deal’ but whether an agreement is reached is ‘irrelevant’ to America's timetableAlisha Rahaman Sarkar1 April 2026 07:00
Bangladeshi national killed in UAE by projectile debris
A Bangladeshi national was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted drone at a farm in the UAE's Fujairah.
"The competent authorities in Fujairah are dealing with an incident that occurred in a farm in the Al Riffa area as a result of shrapnel falling from the interception of a drone, which resulted in the killing of a person of Bangladeshi nationality," state news agency Wam said on X.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 April 2026 06:50
Tanker hit by two projectiles off Qatar
A tanker struck off Qatar was hit by two projectiles, one causing a fire that has since been extinguished and another remaining unexploded in the vessel's engine room, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said this morning.
The vessel was struck about 17 nautical miles north of Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial hub, causing damage above the waterline, with the crew safe and no environmental impact reported.
UKMTO said it was unable to confirm the source of the projectiles and that investigations were ongoing. Maritime authorities have reported multiple security incidents affecting vessels in Gulf waters in recent days.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar1 April 2026 06:40NewerOlder