- US President Donald Trump has said the US will “leave” Iran in “two to three weeks,” but Iran says it is prepared to fight longer.
- The US says it will have “nothing to do with” the Strait of Hormuz, and will shift responsibility to other countries.
- Israel says it has intercepted a missile from Yemen, home of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
- US gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tueday.
President Donald Trump has said his military could leave the conflict in Iran within the next “two or three weeks”, adding that responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz will shift to the countries which rely on it for shipping and oil.
Speaking at the White House late Tuesday, Trump expressed his frustration towards those who have been unwilling to do more to support the US in its conflict in the Middle East, telling them to “go get your own oil.”
He added that the US “will not have anything to do with” what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.
“That’s not for us. That’ll be for France. That’ll be for whoever’s using the Strait,” Trump said.
But Iran’s foreign minister said his country is prepared for “at least six months” of war during an interview.
Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday, “We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was working to intercept a missile from Yemen on Wednesday morning.
There have been no reports of injuries at this stage, according to emergency services.
Trump says US could be done with the war in coming weeks
The US will be finished in Iran in “two or three weeks”, regardless of whether a deal is done for Iran, Trump said on Tuesday.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the president said, “We have had regime change. Now, regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal: they will have no nuclear weapon, and that goal has been attained.
“They will not have nuclear weapons. But we’re finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job. But we want to knock out every single they have.”
Iran’s clerical and military establishment remains in control of the country, with some of the most hard-line factions still extant. Trump, however, continues to insist that regime change has been achieved.
He added that it’s possible the war could end sooner if a deal is reached.
“It’s possible that we’ll have a deal because they want to make a deal. They want to make a deal more than I want to make a deal. But in a fairly short period of time, we’ll be finished,” Trump said.
Trump also said that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should be the problem of other countries, saying it has nothing to do with the US.
“If France or some other country wants to get oil or gas, you go up through the strait and — the Hormuz Strait — they’ll go right up there and they’ll be able to fend for themselves,” he said.
“What happens in the strait, we’re going to have nothing do with,” he added.
The Strait is a narrow waterway off Iran connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, through which a fifth of the world’s oil sails on a typical day.
The president appeared to echo his earlier comments in which he appeared to criticise what he sees as the UK’s lack of action in the region.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump called on the UK to “build up some delayed courage” and “take” the Strait of Hormuz, which has been mostly closed since the conflict began.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump said.
“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Iran says it is prepared for longer conflict
Meanwhile, Iran has said it is prepared for “at least six months” of war, according to its foreign minister.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abbas Araghchi said, “We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required.”
“It does not matter what timelines our enemies set for themselves. However, our recommendation is that they bring this war to a complete and permanent end before facing further damage,” he said, noting an end to the war must include peace throughout the entire region.
He added that Tehran is not in direct negotiations with the US despite claims made by the Trump administration.
“Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between us and the United States,” Araghchi said.
He did say he has received messages from US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and that the US and Iran have communicated indirectly through intermediaries.
US gas prices rise to $4 a gallon
The price of gas in the US has jumped past an average of $4 a gallon, for the first time since 2022, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to push fuel prices up worldwide.
Trump said on Tuesday that the price of gas will quickly reduce once the US leaves Iran.
Meanwhile late on Tuesday, the price of Brent crude oil – seen as an international benchmark – almost hit its highest level since the war began.
Countries across the world have been responding with economic measures, as fears of oil and fuel shortages continued.
Israel intercepts Yemeni missile attack
Israel’s military warned the public on Wednesday morning of an incoming missile from Yemen toward its territory.
There have been no reported injuries at the stage, according to Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom.
Yemen is home to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who entered the conflict over the weekend by firing missiles at Israel.
The Houthis are yet to claim responsibility for Wednesday’s missile launch; however have previously vowed to continue military operations in the coming days.
Israel strikes a factory in Iran, claiming it supplies fentanyl for chemical weapons
Israel said early Wednesday it struck a plant which supplies Iran with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly use in a chemical weapons programme.
Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied “hospital drugs” used in medical operations.
The strike happened on Tuesday, both the Israelis and the Iranians said.
Iran’s foreign minister posted a picture of the factory in Tehran, writing on X: “The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies.”
Hospitals extensively use fentanyl to treat severe pain. But a small amount of the drug can be fatal.
Both Israel and the United States have warned in recent years that Iran was experimenting with fentanyl in munitions
At least five killed by Israeli strike in Beirut
Lebanon’s Health Ministry has said that at least five people have been killed during an Israeli strike on a neighbourhood in Beirut.
The organisation added that in a preliminary count early on Wednesday, 21 people were also wounded in the strike in Jnah.
The strike came without warning, and Israel did not declare the target.
When it does, it often says it is targeting operatives from the Hezbollah militant group.
Iranian drone attack causes fire at Kuwait International Airport
A drone attack by Iran and its allies hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a fire, authorities have said.
The state-run KUNA news agency said the attack early Wednesday sparked a “large fire” at the airport.
It said there were no immediate injuries from the attack, and firefighters were working to control the blaze.
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