US to leave Iran ‘pretty quickly’ and return for ‘spot hits’ if needed, says Trump

In a telephonic interview with Reuters, Trump said, "I can't tell you exactly...we're going to be out pretty quickly," when asked when the United States would consider the war in Iran as over. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that America will be “out of Iran pretty ‌quickly” and could return for “spot hits” if needed, as Tehran hit an oil tanker off Qatar’s coast and Kuwait’s airport while airstrikes continued in Iran.

In a telephonic interview with Reuters, Trump said, “I can’t tell you exactly…we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” when asked when the United States would consider the war in Iran as over.

Trump, who is scheduled to address the country on Thursday (6:30am IST), said that one part of his address would focus on NATO and the western military alliance’s lack of support for US objectives in Iran.

Trump said that he is “absolutely” considering to withdraw the US from NATO, a treaty organization ratified by the US Senate in 1949.

“They haven’t been friends when we needed them. We’ve never asked them for much…it’s a one-way street,” Trump said, Reuters reported.

Detailing about nuclear weapons, Trump said that US actions in Tehran have ensured that the Islamic nation will not have atomic weapon.

“They won’t have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable ‌of that ⁠now, and then I’ll leave, and I’ll take everybody with me, and if we have to we’ll come back to do spot hits,” the US president added.

However, Iran has always rejected the claims of wanting to develop atomic weapons and said that its nuclear programme is peaceful.

During the interview, Trump also expressed hope for finalising a ceasefire deal with the new leaders in the country after the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes.

“We have had full regime change,” Trump said, adding “I’m dealing with a very ​good chance that ⁠we’ll make a deal because they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”

When asked about the enriched uranium which Iran already possesses, Trump said, “That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that. We’ll always be ​watching it by satellite.”

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that America will be “out of Iran pretty ‌quickly” and could return for “spot hits” if needed, as Tehran hit an oil tanker off Qatar’s coast and Kuwait’s airport while airstrikes continued in Iran.

In a telephonic interview with Reuters, Trump said, “I can’t tell you exactly…we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” when asked when the United States would consider the war in Iran as over.

Trump, who is scheduled to address the country on Thursday (6:30am IST), said that one part of his address would focus on NATO and the western military alliance’s lack of support for US objectives in Iran.

Trump said that he is “absolutely” considering to withdraw the US from NATO, a treaty organization ratified by the US Senate in 1949.

“They haven’t been friends when we needed them. We’ve never asked them for much…it’s a one-way street,” Trump said, Reuters reported.

Detailing about nuclear weapons, Trump said that US actions in Tehran have ensured that the Islamic nation will not have atomic weapon.

“They won’t have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable ‌of that ⁠now, and then I’ll leave, and I’ll take everybody with me, and if we have to we’ll come back to do spot hits,” the US president added.

However, Iran has always rejected the claims of wanting to develop atomic weapons and said that its nuclear programme is peaceful.

During the interview, Trump also expressed hope for finalising a ceasefire deal with the new leaders in the country after the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes.

“We have had full regime change,” Trump said, adding “I’m dealing with a very ​good chance that ⁠we’ll make a deal because they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”

When asked about the enriched uranium which Iran already possesses, Trump said, “That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that. We’ll always be ​watching it by satellite.”