Trump says the US can end the Iran war in "two or three weeks"

WashingtonAt the start of the conflict, Donald Trump predicted that the military campaign in Iran would last about four weeks. This deadline has already been exceeded and the price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of gasoline in the US has risen above 4 dollars for the first time since 2022. Now the US president assures that the conflict could be ready in "two or three weeks". "We will leave very soon," he announced this Tuesday afternoon from the Oval Office. After days of insisting that he is negotiating with the Iranians to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz,, the president now suggests that no agreement is necessary to withdraw. "Iran does not have to reach any agreement. No, they don't have to make any deal with me," he stressed. Shortly after these statements, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump will address the nation this Wednesday at nine in the evening (three in the morning in Catalonia) to talk about Iran.

This new appearance adds more uncertainty to the war after Washington has been sending ground operations units to the region. The president sets a deadline of three more weeks of campaign before the operation, dubbed "Epic Fury", concludes. Of the 7,000 additional soldiers that the Pentagon has sent to the region, only about 2,500 marines have arrived, who are on board the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli. The others, who are on board the USS Boxer, still have to arrive, and were expected to do so by mid-April. Meanwhile, elite paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division have already been mobilized. The corps is prepared to be activated within a maximum of 18 hours from the order being given. Last week, furthermore, the Pentagon was also planning to send 10,000 more troops.

The United Arab Emirates could participate in an attack to open Hormuz

The Wall Street Journal reports exclusively that the United Arab Emirates wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and is ready to enter the military campaign. Sources familiar with the discussions had also explained to the Associated Press that Gulf countries have privately urged the United States not to stop attacking Iran until significant changes are obtained. These pressures would be led by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The insistence of the Arab countries to continue with the campaign represents a significant shift compared to the reactions of the early days of the conflict, in which they had urged Washington not to attack Iran.

Iran's attacks have put the economy and prosperity of the petrostates at risk. Last week, the bombings already escalated to energy infrastructures, causing billions of dollars in damage that will take years to repair. This fact alone already ensures that the economic impact of the war will continue to be felt long after the conflict ends.

Trump seems to be shying away from how the post-war period should be managed. Especially with regard to the Strait of Hormuz. "We will leave. This is not for us. Someone can remove the mines that have been thrown into the water. France can do it or anyone who uses the strait," said the president, referring to the naval mines that Iran has placed in the maritime passage since the beginning of the conflict.

Tuesday began with a publication on Truth Social in which Trump precisely distanced himself from the fate of Hormuz, despite having made its reopening a condition for not bombing Iranian electrical facilities on April 6. In this same publication, he lashed out at European countries for not having wanted to help him unblock the maritime passage and distanced himself from the fuel shortage that the extension of the boycott may entail. In fact, he suggested that Europeans buy oil from the US and told them to arm themselves with courage to take control of the strait by force. "The United States will no longer be there to help you, just as you have not been there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!", he concluded.

Iran has at all times denied the existence of these conversations and on Tuesday morning threatened to escalate its attacks against American companies in the region. The Revolutionary Guard warned that, starting this Wednesday, it would attack a total of 18 companies, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing. The Iranians warned them that "the destruction of their facilities should be expected for every terrorist act in Iran," in reference to the attacks by the United States and Israel.