SYNTHESIS 1

Trump declares US will leave war with Iran “very soon” and predicts a national address

Kuwait and Bahrain hit by new Iran attacks, tanker struck off Qatar

Rubio believes direct talks with Tehran are possible

Asian stocks bounce on hope of war ending

Iran reports strikes in capital and hit on port terminal

by Nandita Bose, Steven Scheer, and Yomna Ehab

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the end of the war with Iran could be near, signaling the possibility of direct talks with Tehran’s leaders and a reduction of conflict, even without an agreement.

These remarks underscored Washington’s changing and sometimes contradictory statements on the timing and terms of the end of a war that has resulted in thousands of deaths, spread across the region, and caused unprecedented energy disruptions.

“We will be leaving very soon,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday, specifying it could be “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three.”

“Iran is not required to make a deal, no,” he added when asked if successful diplomacy was a prerequisite for the US to end what they call “Operation Epic Fury.”

TRUMP TO ADDRESS NATION ON IRAN

The US had previously threatened to escalate operations if Tehran did not agree to a 15-point ceasefire framework demanding that Iran not seek nuclear weapons or enrich uranium and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House said Trump would address the nation “to provide a significant update on Iran” at 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday (0100 GMT on Thursday).

Rubio, on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” show, stated there was potential for a “direct encounter at some point” and that the US could “see the finish line.”

“It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it’s coming soon,” Rubio added.

TANKER STRUCK OFF QATAR, FIRES IN BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT

Attacks occurred on multiple fronts on Wednesday, with drones hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport, causing a large fire, and Bahrain authorities reporting a fire in undisclosed company’s facilities following an Iranian attack.

Qatar stated that a tanker leased to state-run QatarEnergy was hit by an Iranian cruise missile in Qatari waters, with damage above the waterline but no casualties or environmental damage.

Explosions were heard in several neighborhoods of Tehran after American-Israeli airstrikes, according to Iranian state media.

State TV showed convoys of cars waving Iranian flags and pro-government gatherings in several cities on the occasion of the national day marking the establishment of the Islamic republic in 1979.

Shahid Haghani port, Iran’s largest passenger terminal, was struck by an airstrike overnight, but there were no casualties, regional deputy governor Ahmad Nafisi told state media, calling the attack “criminal” against civilian infrastructure.

Iran has repeatedly targeted Gulf countries, some of which host American bases, during the conflict, and its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about its ability to use this vital waterway, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, as leverage.

Oil fell over 3% Wednesday, erasing earlier gains, on Trump’s comments about an exit from war, and the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index .MIAPJ0000PUS rose more than 4.7%, its biggest one-day increase since November 2022.

US TO REASSESS RELATIONSHIP WITH NATO, RUBIO DECLARES

Rising oil and fuel prices weigh on American households’ finances and pose a political challenge for Trump and his Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, two-thirds of Americans believe the US should strive to quickly end the war with Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that other countries must “be ready” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, echoing Trump’s criticism of NATO members Britain and France.

Rubio told Fox News that Washington would not turn a blind eye to the lack of assistance from other NATO members. “Once this conflict is over, we’ll need to reassess that relationship,” he said.

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to assist the US and its allies in forcibly opening the strait, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday. The UAE seeks a UN Security Council resolution for this action and suggests the US take strategic roles, according to the report.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards responded Tuesday with a new threat against American companies in the region starting at 8 p.m. Tehran time (1630 GMT) Wednesday, listing 18 companies including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing.

When asked if he was concerned about the threats, Trump replied in the negative.

HOUTHIS LAUNCH COORDINATED ATTACK

Missile debris hit several areas of central Israel following a morning barrage of rockets launched by Iran. Israeli authorities did not immediately report any casualties.

Most of the 19 confirmed deaths in Israel so far have been caused by rocket debris falling after interceptions.

Yemen’s Houthis, who joined the regional war in recent days, claimed to have carried out a missile attack on Israel, describing it as a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah supported by Tehran in Lebanon, the first such collaboration between them during the war.

The Israeli army stated that air defense systems were operating to intercept the threats.

The war has also reignited conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. At least seven people were killed and 24 injured in two Israeli strikes in the Beirut region, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel stated it was targeting two senior Hezbollah officials.

Indonesia called for an investigation into the deaths of three of its peacekeepers following Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which also killed journalists and medical staff.

“We demand a direct UN investigation, not just apologies from Israel,” Indonesian representative to the UN Umar Hadi said at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

((Automated translation by Reuters using machine learning and generative AI, please refer to the following disclaimer: https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))

(Adds Qatar’s statement on tanker strike, paragraph 10, Iran Islamic Republic Day, paragraph 12, oil price and stock movements, paragraph 15)