Trump: US will leave Iran in 2–3 weeks, vows to keep striking 'extremely hard'
President Trump set a firm short timeline for US operations in Iran and renewed threats to degrade Tehran’s military and infrastructure — whether a deal is reached or not. Tehran denies talks and Iran’s parliament has approved a plan to toll the Strait of Hormuz, raising energy-market and regional-security stakes now.
Apr 1, 2026, 2:29 AM EDT
Why it matters:
- The US president gave a fixed, near-term exit timeline while promising further heavy strikes, compressing diplomatic and military options into a two-to-three-week window. - That timeline, Iran’s denial of negotiations, and Tehran’s new Strait-of-Hormuz toll plan together heighten risks for global oil flows and for escalation across the Gulf.
Driving the news:
- Trump said US forces will "finish the job" in Iran within "two to three weeks" and pledged to hit Iran "extremely hard" during that period. - He warned the US could strike Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if Tehran does not meet US demands. - Iran’s foreign ministry denied talks and called claims about a ceasefire request "false and baseless."
What they're saying:
- The president argued the US has already degraded Iran’s military and said American forces would not be tasked with securing the Strait of Hormuz. - Iranian officials publicly reject negotiation claims and stress they will continue defending national sovereignty. - Allies and markets responded with concern: some US partners pushed for stability measures while criticism grew at home over the administration’s planning and costs.
The signal:
- A two-to-three-week deadline signals an attempt to set a political endgame while keeping military pressure high; that compresses diplomatic leverage and raises the chance of miscalculation. - Tehran's parliamentary move to toll the Strait of Hormuz — and to bar vessels from countries participating in sanctions — is a formal escalation aimed at coercing Western navies and raising the geopolitical cost of continued operations.
By the numbers:
- Brent crude climbed above $100 per barrel after renewed threats and strikes; one bulletin put Brent near $114 a barrel and noted large month-on-month gains since late February. - Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz typically carries about 20% of global crude — a chokepoint whose disruption amplifies the war’s economic ripple effects.
The bottom line:
- Trump set a short, public timetable and doubled down on military pressure; Tehran denies negotiating and is taking countermeasures that together keep the region and global energy markets on edge.