Trump Signals Conflict May End Soon
Donald Trump said the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran could end “very soon”, as the conflict entered its second week with continued strikes across the region.
Asked whether the fighting would end within days, the US president said he expected the campaign to conclude shortly, but stopped short of setting a firm timeline.
“No, but I think soon. Very soon,” he said when asked if the war might end this week.
Trump described the campaign as a “short-term excursion”, claiming the military operation was already largely successful and ahead of schedule.
“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” he said, adding that the operation would only conclude once Iran was no longer capable of threatening the US, Israel or their regional allies with weapons for a long period.
Disappointment Over Iran’s New Supreme Leader
Trump also reacted to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
The president said he was “disappointed” by the choice, warning that it could lead to further tensions rather than political change inside Iran.
“I was disappointed because we think it’s going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country,” Trump said.
He had previously suggested he had potential candidates in mind who might lead Iran after the current regime.
However, he emphasised that any future leadership would ideally come from inside the country rather than from figures who have spent decades in exile.
Trump noted that some commentators had mentioned Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former shah, but pointed out that he had not lived in the country for many years.
“I like the idea of internal and eternal,” Trump said, suggesting a leader emerging from within Iran’s political system might be more viable.
Refuses to Comment on Targeting Khamenei
The president twice declined to say whether Iran’s new leader had become a potential military target.
When asked directly if Mojtaba Khamenei had “a target on his back”, Trump refused to answer.
“I don’t want to say if he does or not, because that would be inappropriate,” he said.
His remarks came as Israel signalled it could consider targeting Iran’s new leadership as part of its ongoing campaign.
Strikes Continue Across the Region
Despite Trump’s suggestion the conflict could end soon, fighting continued across multiple fronts.
Israeli forces launched a second wave of strikes against targets in Tehran, with the Israel Defense Forces saying the attacks were aimed at “terror targets” in the Iranian capital.
However, reports indicated that energy and fuel infrastructure used by civilians had also been hit.
Meanwhile, Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory as well as US military bases across the Middle East and energy facilities in Gulf states.
The conflict has also expanded beyond Iran and Israel.
Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon have intensified, with raids in the south and airstrikes in Beirut.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli attacks had killed 486 people since early March, including at least 83 children, while around 600,000 people have been displaced.
British forces have also been drawn into regional defence efforts. The UK Ministry of Defence said Eurofighter Typhoon jets intercepted drones heading toward Jordan and Bahrain.
In addition, Turkey said NATO air defences intercepted a ballistic missile from Iran that had entered its airspace.
Oil Prices Swing on War Comments
The conflict has also shaken global energy markets.
Oil prices surged sharply earlier in the week, with Brent crude climbing above $119 per barrel — the highest level in four years.
Markets reacted quickly after Trump suggested the conflict could soon end.
Brent crude later fell back to about $98.96 per barrel, easing fears of a prolonged disruption to global energy supplies.
Stock markets also recovered after the president’s comments. The S&P 500 initially opened lower but later finished the day higher as investors reacted to the possibility that the war might be shorter than previously feared.
Despite the market relief, analysts warn that volatility could continue as long as fighting persists across the region.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 09.03 2026