On March 31, 2026, President Donald Trump stated that the US military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, could end within two to three weeks. He explicitly declared that a formal agreement with Tehran is “irrelevant” to the timeline for withdrawal.
He stated that the US will leave once he feels Iran has been “put into the stone ages” and rendered unable to develop a nuclear weapon for years.
Trump claimed that “regime change” has already been achieved, describing the current Iranian leadership as “much more reasonable”.
He asserted that the US will have “nothing to do with” the closed Strait of Hormuz after leaving, telling allies they must “go get your own oil” and defend the shipping lane themselves.
How did Iran react?
Deep divisions have surfaced between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and IRGC Chief Commander Ahmad Vahidi over how to handle the ongoing war and its severe toll on citizens’ livelihoods and the national economy, sources familiar with the matter told Iran International.
According to these sources, Pezeshkian has criticized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for escalating tensions and carrying out attacks on neighboring countries, warning of the economic fallout such actions could provoke.
He has reportedly cautioned that without a ceasefire, Iran’s economy could collapse entirely within three to four weeks.
Iran’s President expressed willingness to end conflict
During a phone call with European Council President António Costa on March 31, 2026, Pezeshkian stated that Tehran has the “necessary will” to end the conflict as reported by BBC.
The current situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous. Today, in my phone call with the President of Iran, @DrPezeshkian, I urged for de-escalation and restraint, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the need for all parties to fully respect…
— António Costa (@eucopresident) March 31, 2026
He emphasized that any cessation of hostilities requires “essential guarantees” that the US and Israel will not resume military action or repeat their “aggression” in the future.
Pezeshkian remarked that the US “does not believe in diplomacy,” noting that Iran had been attacked twice even while attempting to negotiate with Washington. Pezeshkian attributed the disruption in marine traffic to US and Israeli actions, stating it would only end when their “aggressive attacks” on Iran cease.
Iranian FM confirms contact with US Special Envoy Witkoff
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on March 31, 2026, that while he is in direct contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, these interactions do not constitute formal negotiations, as reported by the WSJ.
Araghchi described the communications as an “exchange of messages” rather than diplomacy. These messages, which include “threats or exchanged views,” are delivered sometimes directly and sometimes through regional intermediaries.
He explicitly stated that Tehran has not responded to the 15-point proposal by the US, nor has it submitted any counter-proposals or conditions of its own.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that Iran has “no faith” in the results of negotiations with the US, citing previous instances where Washington launched attacks in the middle of diplomatic efforts.
He emphasized that Iran is not seeking a temporary ceasefire or “pause.” Instead, it will only accept a complete and permanent end to the war across the region, accompanied by guarantees and compensation for damages.
How about Israel?
Israel’s stance on the conflict remains more aggressive than the US timeline suggests. While President Trump has signaled a potential exit within two to three weeks, The Times of Israel reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military maintain that their strategic objectives are not yet fully complete.
On March 30, Netanyahu stated that the war is “beyond the halfway point” in terms of missions, but not necessarily in terms of time. He has repeatedly defined the central goal as regime change and “systematically crushing” the Iranian government—a more expansive objective than Trump’s focus on nuclear dismantlement.
A military spokesperson confirmed on 31 March that the IDF is prepared for “weeks more” of fighting and has the “manpower and munitions” to continue regardless of political shifts in Washington, as reported by Reuters.
Netanyahu claims to be building “new alliances” in West Asia, suggesting that Israel is preparing for a long-term regional realignment following the conflict.
The White House announced that US President Donald Trump will deliver a televised prime-time address on Wednesday evening to provide an update on the war with Iran.
