Trump to deliver ‘important update on Iran’ Wednesday night

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the speech on X, telling Americans to “tune in” at 9 p.m. ET for what she described as an “important update on Iran.”

The announcement comes as Trump indicated Tuesday that the United States could wrap up its military campaign within “two or three weeks,” while downplaying the need for any negotiated settlement with the Islamic Republic.

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“No, [the Iranians] don’t have to make a deal,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “When we feel that they are… put into the Stone Age and won’t be able to come up with a nuclear weapon, then we’ll leave. Whether we have a deal or not, it’s irrelevant.”

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Trump emphasized that remaining Iranian stockpiles of enriched uranium are not a concern, noting they are buried deep underground and inaccessible.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that assessment, stating Israel has “smashed” Tehran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons during the current conflict. Together, the remarks suggest US and Israeli leadership believe their primary objective, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, has largely been achieved.

“It’s possible that we’ll have a deal because they want to make a deal more than I want to make a deal,” Trump added, while reiterating that a diplomatic agreement is no longer a prerequisite for ending the conflict.

While US forces have reportedly carried out thousands of strikes and amassed additional troops in the region, Trump signaled that a full-scale ground war may be avoided.

“In a fairly short period of time, we’ll be finished,” he said, predicting Iran would be unable to develop nuclear weapons “for years.”

Questions remain about how Iran will respond if the US unilaterally disengages, and whether a long-term resolution is achievable without a formal agreement. Trump acknowledged the possibility that future administrations may need to confront Iran again, suggesting any long-term containment may require continued vigilance.

Addressing domestic concerns, Trump argued that the military campaign, while a “detour” from economic priorities, was necessary to ensure national security. Americans “are also feeling a lot safer,” he said, even as gas prices have risen amid instability in the region. He predicted energy costs would “tumble down” once US operations conclude and stability returns.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump indicated the US would not take responsibility for securing international shipping routes. “Other countries… will have to fend for themselves,” he said.

Pressed on the timing of concluding operations, Trump responded: “I think two or three weeks.”