Donald Trump has signalled he will end his war with Iran “soon” - even if Tehran fails to agree to a deal.
“We’ll be leaving very soon,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday night, 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.”
Shortly after he made those comments, the White House announced that Trump is to give an “important update on Iran” in a national address at 9pm EDT on Wednesday (2am BST on Thursday).
Trump’s comments triggered a sharp fall in the price of oil. The price of a barrel of Brent Crude dropped from $119 to below $104 in just 45 minutes.
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.
Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, told Fox News Channel’s 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,” Mr Rubio added.
Still, the conflict continued on Wednesday with attacks reported on both sides. Drones hit fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport causing a big blaze and authorities in Bahrain reporting 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 were 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.
Meanwhile,Sir Keir Starmer is expected to provide an update on the cost of living amid concerns over the amount energy bills could rise as a result of the Middle East conflict.
The Prime Minister is due to speak at a press conference later on Wednesday morning after he vowed to “protect the British people at home and abroad”.
It is thought Sir Keir’s Downing Street press conference will cover both the conflict and Government support for households as rising prices bite.
Since fighting began in Iran, oil prices have soared in response to Tehran’s block on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Families with a 55-litre diesel car face paying more than £100 at the pump for the first time since December 2022.
It comes as Trump alleged on his Truth Social platform that the UK was among several countries which “can’t get jet fuel” ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend - a claim which industry body Airlines UK has refuted.
The US president said the UK and other countries which did not take part in strikes against Iran should secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves.
The US president wrote online: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“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.”
RAC figures on Tuesday showed average diesel prices at UK forecourts were 182.8p per litre, up 40p since the start of the conflict, which brought the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car to £100.52.
The average cost of petrol is 152.8p per litre, an increase of 20p since the war began.
