Trump to address nation after saying U.S. may leave war within weeks

## Summary
Alex Wong/Getty Images North America hide caption toggle caption Alex Wong/Getty Images North America President Trump is set to address the nation on the Iran war at 9 p.m. On Tuesday, Trump said he expected the conflict to be over in two to three weeks, adding, "we'll be leaving very soon," and promising gas prices would then "come tumbling down." Trump shrugged off what would happen to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz – which has cut off one fifth of the world's oil supply – saying, "we're not going to have anything to do with it." He said that it wouldn't affect the U.S. and would be something for other countries to deal with. "They'll be able to fend for themselves," he said, having previously told European allies who have refused to enter the war to "go get your own oil!" The assertion to wrap up the war quickly comes just days after Trump threatened to up the ante if there was no deal and Tehran didn't reopen the strait. But on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed his boss's latest comments on the war being over in a matter of weeks, saying the main goal of preventing Iran from being able to build a nuclear weapon had been achieved. He also warned that "the reality is, the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months." 'Hospitality' is over, says Iran Ebrahim Azizi, the head of Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, said on X in a message to Trump that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen "but not for you." People sift through rubble in the aftermath of a drone attack on a residential building in which one civilian was killed on March 31, 2026 in eastern Tehran, Iran.

## Article Content
Trump to address nation after saying U.S. may leave war within weeks
April 1, 2026
6:02 AM ET
By
NPR Staff
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) speaks after signing an executive order to limit mail-in voting as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick looks on in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Images North America
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Alex Wong/Getty Images North America
President Trump is set to address the nation on the Iran war at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday night, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying he would be providing "an important update," without providing further details.
On Tuesday, Trump said he expected the conflict to be over in two to three weeks, adding, "we'll be leaving very soon," and promising gas prices would then "come tumbling down."
Trump shrugged off what would happen to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz – which has cut off one fifth of the world's oil supply – saying, "we're not going to have anything to do with it." He said that it wouldn't affect the U.S. and would be something for other countries to deal with.
"They'll be able to fend for themselves," he said, having previously told European allies who have refused to enter the war to "go get your own oil!"
The assertion to wrap up the war quickly comes just days after Trump threatened to up the ante if there was no deal and Tehran didn't reopen the strait. He said he could seize Iran's oil and blow up all of their Electric Generating Plants and desalinization plants. He also said he was considering an invasion of Iran's key oil export terminal, Kharg Island.
But on Tuesday, Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
echoed his boss's latest comments on the war being over in a matter of weeks, saying the main goal of preventing Iran from being able to build a nuclear weapon had been achieved.
Rubio has expressed frustration in recent days over news reports accusing the administration of lacking clear objectives in Iran.
He said the objectives were: the destruction of Iran's air force, the destruction of its navy, the "severe diminishing" of its capability to launch missiles, and the destruction of its factories.
Regime change, previously touted by the administration as a goal, was not mentioned. Earlier this week Trump said he considered regime change had been achieved, despite the fact that it remains a hardline theocracy led by the son of the previous ayatollah.
Here are more updates on day 33 of the Iran war:
Fighting overnight
|
World leaders
|
Iran
|
American journalist kidnapped
|
Hegseth visits troops
|
Aid hold up
|
Peace plan
Regional Fighting overnight
The
Israel Defense Forces said they hit 230 targets in Tehran while also widening an invasion into Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran is striking back at Gulf neighbors, especially military bases used by the U.S. this week. One of those attacks injured as many as 20 U.S. service members in Saudi Arabia.
Since the war began over a month ago, 13 U.S. service members have been killed. Iran says more than 1,700 people have been killed in Iran.
People take cover in a bomb shelter as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missile strikes in Bnei Brak, Israel, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Oded Balilty/AP
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toggle caption
Oded Balilty/AP
Also overnight Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed missile attacks on Israel, which the Israeli military intercepted. The Houthis have vowed an "escalation" in attacks.
Israel's emergency services reported Iranian missiles fired at central Israel had
injured 14 people
, including children.
At Kuwait's international airport, Iranian drones hit fuel depots, causing a huge fire, a day after a Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai was hit.
In Qatar
on Wednesday, a missile launched by Iran hit an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergies, which said no one was injured and reported no environmental impact.
UK, Australia leaders speak
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the nation on Wednesday about how the rising cost of living caused by the conflict will affect British citizens and what his government is doing to try to mitigate that.
He repeated a previous vow that the U.K. will only take "defensive" action against Iranian attacks in the Middle East and would not get drawn into the war. He also announced his foreign secretary would organize an international summit on the Strait of Hormuz aimed at restoring freedom of navigation.
Australian Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese
also gave a national address on the war on Wednesday.
Earlier this week Albanese announced his government would halve the fuel tax for three months to give Australians some respite from the rising costs.
He urged Australians to use public transport and not to hoard fuel. He also warned that "the reality is, the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months."
'Hospitality' is over, says Iran
Ebrahim Azizi, the head of Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, said on X in a
message to Trump

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Eastern time on Wednesday night, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying he would be providing "an important update," without providing further details.
- On Tuesday, Trump said he expected the conflict to be over in two to three weeks, adding, "we'll be leaving very soon," and promising gas prices would then "come tumbling down." Trump shrugged off what would happen to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz – which has cut off one fifth of the world's oil supply – saying, "we're not going to have anything to do with it." He said that it wouldn't affect the U.S. and would be something for other countries to deal with. "They'll be able to fend for themselves," he said, having previously told European allies who have refused to enter the war to "go get your own oil!" The assertion to wrap up the war quickly comes just days after Trump threatened to up the ante if there was no deal and Tehran didn't reopen the strait.
- Al-Monitor said in a statement it is "deeply alarmed" by her kidnapping. "We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work," it said.

### Areas for Consideration
- Rubio has expressed frustration in recent days over news reports accusing the administration of lacking clear objectives in Iran.
- The statement did not condemn the kidnapping or express concern.
- Press freedom organizations expressed deep concern.

### Implications
- Trump to address nation after saying U.S. may leave war within weeks April 1, 2026 6:02 AM ET By NPR Staff U.S.
- On Tuesday, Trump said he expected the conflict to be over in two to three weeks, adding, "we'll be leaving very soon," and promising gas prices would then "come tumbling down." Trump shrugged off what would happen to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz – which has cut off one fifth of the world's oil supply – saying, "we're not going to have anything to do with it." He said that it wouldn't affect the U.S. and would be something for other countries to deal with. "They'll be able to fend for themselves," he said, having previously told European allies who have refused to enter the war to "go get your own oil!" The assertion to wrap up the war quickly comes just days after Trump threatened to up the ante if there was no deal and Tehran didn't reopen the strait.
- He said he could seize Iran's oil and blow up all of their Electric Generating Plants and desalinization plants.
- Regime change, previously touted by the administration as a goal, was not mentioned.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, war, trump topics. Notable strengths include discussion of iran. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1853.