Trump says US to leave Iran 'very soon,' deal or not / Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI - AFP
Trump says US to leave Iran 'very soon,' deal or not
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that US forces would end operations in Iran "very soon," evoking a timeline of two to three weeks as his administration pursues talks with Iranian authorities while continuing its aerial campaign.
Asked during a White House event about the impact of high fuel prices since the start of the war on February 28, Trump said that "All I have to do is leave Iran, and we'll be doing that very soon, and they'll become tumbling down."
"We're finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job," he added.
Trump also said the end to US operations was not dependent on reaching any deal with Iran, which has in retaliation effectively closed the crucial Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.
"They don't have to make a deal with me," he told journalists in the Oval Office, after signing an executive order to crack down on mail-in voting that he claims without evidence is riddled with fraud.
"When we feel that they are, for a long period of time, put into the stone ages and they won't be able to come up with a nuclear weapon, then we'll leave," he said.
"Whether we have a deal or not, it's irrelevant."
- 'Get your own oil' -
Trump also reiterated his call for countries to "get" oil by going to the Strait of Hormuz themselves, after many allies refused US calls for military help to free up tanker traffic.
"If France or some other country wants to get oil or gas, they'll go up through the Hormuz Strait, they'll go right up there, and they'll be able to fend for themselves," he said.
"What happens with the strait we're not going to have anything to do with, because these countries, China, China will go up and they'll fuel up their beautiful ships... and they'll take care of themselves. There's no reason for us to do it."
In a Truth Social post earlier Tuesday, Trump told countries that are struggling with fuel shortages to "go get your own oil" in the Strait of Hormuz.
"The U.S.A. won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!"
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that message at a news conference.
"It's not just our problem set, going forward, even though we have done the lion's share of preparation to ensure that that strait will be open," Hegseth said.
He also said that the next days of the Iran war will be "decisive," while refusing to rule out US ground forces playing a role in the conflict.
"The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it," Hegseth said.
He also said he had made an unannounced trip to visit US troops taking part in operations against Iran.
"We were on the ground in CENTCOM on Saturday for about half the day. For reasons of operational security, so those troops are not targeted, the places and bases will not be named," Hegseth said, referring to the US command responsible for the region.
E.Lokelani--HStB
