US eyes a swift end to war as fresh attacks hit Gulf states and Iran

Trump claims that the exit could take place 'within two weeks, maybe three'

US President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the end of the war with Iran could be near, with Washington signalling ​potential for both direct talks with Tehran's leadership and a winding down of the conflict even without a deal.

The remarks underscored the shifting, often contradictory timelines and statements from Washington about how and ‌when the war, now in its fifth week, might end.

"We'll be leaving very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, saying the exit could take place "within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three".

Asked if successful diplomacy was a prerequisite for the US to end what it calls "Operation Epic Fury", Trump said it was not.

"Iran doesn't have to make a deal, no," he said. "No, they don't have to make a deal with me".

Washington had previously threatened to intensify operations if Tehran did not accept a 15-point US ceasefire framework that had among its core demands that Iran commit ​not to pursue nuclear weapons, halt all uranium enrichment and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House said Trump would address the nation "to provide an important update on Iran".

Rubio ​told Fox News' "Hannity" programme there was potential for a meeting between both sides "at some point" and the United States could "see the finish line".

"It's not today, it's not tomorrow, but it ⁠is coming," Rubio added.

SECRETARY RUBIO: It’s illegal to bomb and sink commercial shipping. These are terroristic acts that Iran is undertaking in the Strait of Hormuz. Countries around the world should be stepping up and dealing with this. pic.twitter.com/BbiVHfogL5

— Department of State (@StateDept) April 1, 2026

Israel, Iran trade strikes

Drop Site News footage shows the aftermath of a US-Israeli strike on a major religious site in Zanjan.

📹 Aerial footage of U.S.-Israeli strike on major religious site in Zanjan

Footage shows the aftermath of an airstrike on the Grand Hosseiniyeh of Zanjan, a large Shia religious complex used for gatherings and ceremonies in northwestern Iran. pic.twitter.com/3XrZKaseYp

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 1, 2026

Drop Site News also reported on multiple impacts in central Israel after an Iranian missile strike. The impacts were reported in Tel Aviv, the Gush Dan area, and Bnei Brak following an Iranian ballistic missile launch, according to initial reports.

Some reports point to the missile carrying a cluster-type warhead, but this has not been independently confirmed.

Tanker hit off Qatar, blazes in Bahrain, Kuwait

Still, attacks were reported on both sides early on Wednesday, with drones hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport, causing a big blaze and authorities in Bahrain reported a fire at an undisclosed company facility ​from an Iranian attack.

A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile near the Qatari capital Doha, causing damage to the hull at the waterline, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, adding the crew was safe.

Explosions were heard in multiple areas of Tehran early ​Wednesday after US-Israeli air attacks, Iranian state media reported, adding that its air defences were activated.

Shahid Haghani Port, Iran's largest passenger terminal located in Bandar Abbas port on the Gulf, was hit by an overnight air strike, but there were no casualties, the deputy governor Ahmad Nafisi told state media, calling it a "criminal" attack against civilian infrastructure.

Gulf countries, some home to US bases, have been repeatedly fired on by Tehran during the US-Israeli war, with concerns mounting about Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ability to use the vital waterway, a conduit for a fifth of global oil ​and liquefied natural gas, as a bargaining chip.

While the United States has said talks with Iran were ongoing, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that he has ​been receiving direct messages from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, ​but those do not constitute "negotiations", Qatar's Al Jazeera TV cited ⁠him as saying.

The messages include threats or exchanged views delivered through "friends," he added.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday hit back with a new threat against US companies in the region starting on Wednesday.

It listed 18 businesses, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing, that would be targeted from 8:00pm.

Read: Iran’s Pezeshkian says US doesn’t believe in diplomacy as IRGC threatens to target US tech firms

When asked if he was concerned about threats to the companies, Trump ​said no.

Oil markets were subdued as trading resumed in Asia on Wednesday, but stocks and bonds rallied at the start of the session on hopes of a de-escalation. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was ​up 2.7% after a four-day losing streak as the Nikkei 225 jumped 3.9% at one point after Trump's latest remarks.

Stocks on Wall Street soared on Tuesday as traders bet on the potential off-ramp, sending the S&P 500 2.9% higher.

US messaging is not negotiations, Iran says

Higher oil and fuel ‌prices have started ⁠to weigh on US household finances and are a political headache for Trump and his Republican Party before the November midterm elections.

Two-thirds of Americans believe the US should work to end its involvement in the Iran war quickly, even if that means not achieving the goals set out by the Trump administration, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to help the US and allies open the Strait of Hormuz by force, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Tuesday, in an effort to end its effective closure.

A drone view of people gathering at the site of damage in a residential neighbourhood following Iranian missile barrages in central Israel.
PHOTO: REUTERS

The UAE is seeking a UN Security Council resolution for the action and suggested the US occupy strategic islands, according to the report.

Trump earlier on Tuesday also criticised countries that have not helped the US war effort, such as NATO member Britain.

"NATO is a one-way street," Secretary of State Rubio told ​the Fox News show, noting Europe ⁠was eager for the US to defend it but had not stepped up to provide the help the US sought.

"After this conflict is concluded, we are going to have to reexamine that relationship," Rubio said.

War continues to rage

Israel's military said on Wednesday it had carried out more than 800 strike sorties against Iranian targets during the war involving 16,000 munitions and 5,000 new targets identified. The Israeli military also said it had identified the launch of a missile from Yemen towards Israel, adding that air defence systems were operating to intercept the ⁠threat.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis joined ​the regional war in recent days, launching missiles at Israel in support of Tehran.

The war has also revived conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group ​Hezbollah.

At least seven people were killed and 24 wounded in two Israeli strikes in the Beirut area, the Lebanese health ministry said on Wednesday.

Israel's military said on Wednesday it carried out two separate strikes targeting a senior Hezbollah commander and another senior member of the Iran-aligned group in the Beirut area. It did ​not identify them or say whether they had been killed.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the strikes.