President Signals End to Operation Epic Fury Within Weeks, Schedules Prime-Time Address for Wednesday
President Donald Trump delivered his most definitive statement yet on the trajectory of the Iran war on Tuesday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that U.S. forces would be “leaving very soon” and suggesting the military campaign could wrap up within two to three weeks.
Hours later, the White House confirmed that Trump will deliver a prime-time national address on Wednesday evening at 9 p.m. ET to provide what Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called “an important update on Iran.”
The announcement sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles, marking the clearest indication yet that the 32-day-old conflict — the largest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq — may be approaching its conclusion.
Day 32: B-52s Over Iran as Air Defenses Crumble
At a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday morning, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine painted a picture of a campaign nearing its military objectives.
In a significant escalation that paradoxically signals Iran’s weakening position, Caine revealed that B-52 bombers had flown over Iranian territory for the first time since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. The deployment of the aging but devastating strategic bombers indicates that Iran’s once-formidable air defense network has been severely degraded.
“Their ability to threaten our aircraft has been significantly diminished,” Caine told reporters. Since the war began, the U.S.-Israeli coalition has struck over 13,000 targets across Iran, with Trump telling the Financial Times that approximately 3,000 targets remain.
Hegseth, fresh from a covert weekend visit to U.S. troops in the region, acknowledged that Iran retains some retaliatory capability. “They will shoot some missiles,” he said matter-of-factly. “We will shoot them down.”
The Secretary stressed that the U.S. would continue to prioritize “unpredictability” in the campaign, keeping all options on the table — including the potential deployment of ground troops.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens — But Trump Says It’s Not America’s Problem
While the military campaign may be winding down, the economic fallout continues to intensify. U.S. gasoline prices crossed $4 per gallon on Tuesday for the first time since August 2022 — a 35% surge since the war began, according to AAA data. Oil prices climbed further, with U.S. crude settling above $100 per barrel.
Trump’s response to the energy crisis was characteristically blunt. In a Truth Social post aimed at European allies, particularly Britain, who have not helped secure the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway, the president wrote: “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself. Go get your own oil!”
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows, has been effectively shut down since Iran began its blockade in response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes. Iran’s Parliament on Monday took the extraordinary step of approving a plan to institute a toll on ships passing through the strait — a move that would assert sovereign control over what has traditionally been an international waterway.
The economic pressure extends well beyond fuel prices. The S&P 500 surged nearly 3% on Tuesday as investors bet that Trump’s comments signaled an imminent end to the conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had told White House staff he would be open to ending the war even without reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a significant softening of what was previously considered a core U.S. objective.
Iran Rejects U.S. Peace Proposal — But Rubio Sees ‘Finish Line’
The diplomatic picture remains murky. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tuesday that Tehran has neither responded to a 15-point U.S. peace proposal nor made a counteroffer. He flatly denied that any formal negotiations were taking place, directly contradicting Trump’s claim that talks were progressing well.
Despite this public posture, Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck an optimistic tone in a Fox News appearance. “We can see the finish line,” Rubio told Sean Hannity. “It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming.”
Trump himself appeared to lower the bar for what would constitute a successful conclusion. Asked about rising gas prices, he said they would fall once the U.S. leaves Iran, claiming that would happen in “maybe two weeks, maybe three.” Crucially, he indicated that a deal with Iran was not a prerequisite for withdrawal — a major shift from earlier demands that included the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program.
Gulf States Under Fire: UAE, Kuwait, Qatar Hit by Iranian Strikes
Even as diplomatic signals suggest a possible endgame, the war’s regional spillover showed no signs of abating on Tuesday.
The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting 8 ballistic missiles, 4 cruise missiles, and 36 drones launched from Iran on March 31 alone. Since the start of the conflict, UAE air defenses have engaged a staggering 433 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 1,977 UAVs, according to figures compiled by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
A Kuwaiti oil tanker erupted in flames at a Dubai port after a drone attack that Kuwaiti authorities attributed to Iran, the latest in a string of assaults on merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf. Qatar reported that Iranian attacks were having a “catastrophic effect” on the relationship between the two countries.
In Israel, missile debris from Iranian and Hezbollah salvos struck central Israel, destroying vehicles in Petah Tikva. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, outlined plans for the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents and the destruction of villages along Israel’s northern border, with Israeli forces maintaining control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.
American Journalist Kidnapped in Baghdad
In a chilling reminder of the war’s human toll, American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry. Security forces pursued the kidnappers, arrested one suspect, and seized a vehicle used in the abduction. The suspect is a member of the Iranian-allied paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah, two senior Iraqi security officials told the New York Times.
The kidnapping underscores the broader security crisis across the region, where Iranian-backed militias continue to operate even as Iran’s conventional military capabilities are systematically dismantled.
NATO Rift Widens as Europe Refuses to Back the Campaign
The Iran war has exposed deep fractures within the Western alliance. Italy and Spain have blocked U.S. military access to their bases, though flight-tracking data on Monday showed that U.S. aircraft continued using Spanish bases for non-Iran-related destinations.
Trump lashed out at European nations for not helping address the damage caused by the war, while Rubio suggested the U.S. would “reexamine” its relationship with NATO — a threat that carries significant weight given the alliance’s already strained dynamics.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi joined the growing list of regional leaders attempting to mediate, though the prospect of immediate negotiations remains dim given Iran’s stated refusal to engage.
What to Watch: Wednesday’s National Address
All eyes now turn to Wednesday evening’s prime-time address, where Trump is expected to lay out his vision for the endgame. Key questions include:
Will the U.S. set a firm withdrawal timeline? Trump’s “two to three weeks” comment suggests operations could conclude by mid-to-late April.
What happens to the Strait of Hormuz? If the U.S. withdraws without reopening the strait, global energy markets could face prolonged disruption.
Is a deal with Iran on the table — or off it? Trump’s suggestion that withdrawal doesn’t require a deal marks a significant policy shift.
What about the nuclear program? Trump told reporters Tuesday that he had “attained his goal of dealing with Iran’s nuclear program” — but without a formal agreement, the long-term status of Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains unresolved.
The 32-day war has cost billions, sent gas prices soaring, fractured Western alliances, and destabilized an already volatile region. Whether Wednesday’s address marks the beginning of the end — or simply the end of the beginning — may define the Trump presidency’s most consequential foreign policy chapter.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more details emerge ahead of Wednesday’s national address.