Trump says US could leave Iran war in 2-3 weeks without a deal; Iran’s FM Araghchi says he has no faith in talks.
Published On 1 Apr 2026
United States President Donald Trump has said Tehran does not have to make a deal for him to end the war, adding that the conflict could end in two to three weeks, but Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he has no faith in talks with Washington.
US-Israeli attacks continue across Iran, with pharmaceutical companies and steel plants in Isfahan and Farokhshahr among the sites hit, according to Iranian media and officials.
Israeli attacks also continue in Lebanon, as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said homes in the south would be demolished and hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese would not be allowed to return.
In Iran
- Ongoing strikes: US-Israeli air attacks continue across the country, targeting industrial and civilian sites, including steel plants, pharmaceutical facilities, port infrastructure, meteorology facilities and a residential complex, according to Iranian state media and the Red Crescent. Iranian media have reported explosions in cities including Ahvaz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah and Bandar Abbas.
- An Iranian official says US-Israeli forces bombed the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical raw material units in Tehran, destroying its research and development department and dealing a “blow to the national medical supply chain”.
- Ahmad Nafisi, a top official in Iran’s Hormozgan province, said enemy fighter jets bombed the Shahid Haqqani passenger pier in the city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday. He condemned the “criminal” attack on civilian infrastructure and said no one was killed or wounded.
- Desalination plant hit: A desalination plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz was knocked out by strikes and is now out of service, Iranian media reported.
- Iran’s diplomatic stance: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that messages have been exchanged with Washington and [US Special Envoy Steve] Witkoff, but there are no negotiations and Tehran has “zero” trust in the US.
- ‘Not as easy’ for Trump to walk away from war: Analyst Trita Parsi said it is unlikely the war will end quickly or the Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon, adding Iran will likely continue to control and attack the waterway and that it is “not as easy for Trump to just walk out” of the conflict.
- More than 2,000 Iranians have been killed and thousands of civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, universities and pharmaceutical factories, have been attacked by Israel and the US. Targeting of civilian sites is considered a war crime.
War diplomacy
- NATO allies withdraw support: Spain, France and Italy have restricted US military operations, closing airspace, denying base access and limiting logistical support.
- China pushes for ceasefire: China and Pakistan proposed a five-point plan including a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as Beijing steps up diplomatic efforts.
- Regional diplomacy: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have held talks on the Iran war amid efforts to restore stability in the Middle East.
- International designations: Argentina, under pro-Trump President Javier Milei, officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organisation.
- Vatican urges de-escalation: Pope Leo XIV said he hoped Trump was looking to end the war and called for a halt to the violence. Leo rarely makes direct appeals to national leaders, but he has been stepping up criticism of the Iran war in recent weeks.
In the Gulf
- Kuwait under threat: Iranian drone attacks have repeatedly targeted Kuwait’s airport, and the airspace has been closed since February 28, with Saudi Arabia providing buses to airports in Dammam and Qaisumah.
- Air raid sirens in Bahrain: Warning sirens sounded multiple times, and authorities told residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe places.
- Saudi Arabia intercepts drones: The Ministry of Defense said it destroyed two more drones amid ongoing missile and drone attacks since the war began.
- ‘Unknown projectile’ hits tanker off Qatar: A vessel was damaged north of Doha, but all crew were safe and there was no environmental impact, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said.
In the US
- US war timeline: Trump said the war could end in “two to three weeks” and a deal is not required, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is “negotiating with bombs” and warned the coming days will be decisive.
- Economic impact: The war and its uncertainty have led to surging oil prices and volatility in global energy markets. US Senator Chris Coons stated that the war is driving up the costs of groceries, utility bills, and mortgages for American families.
In Israel
- Attacks inside Israel: Iran and Hezbollah continue coordinated attacks, targeting key infrastructure and northern cities, and causing power outages as the state of emergency remains in place and Israelis prepare for the Passover holiday.
- The Channel 12 broadcaster said on Wednesday that a drone infiltrated northern Israel over the city of Kiryat Shmona. The intrusion set off alarms in the Safad area, and the hunt for the drone was continuing.
- Channel 12 also said “loud explosions” and “several crash sites” have been reported in central Israel following the launch of missiles from Iran. It said the attack – which set off alarms in Gush Dan, Sharon and Samaria (occupied West Bank) regions – has ended. There were no reports of casualties, it added.
- The Israeli military has intercepted a missile launched from Yemen towards southern Israel, and no casualties were reported from the incident, according to Channel 12.
- The Israeli military claims “more than 800 air force attack flights have been carried out in Iran, dropping approximately 16,000 munitions.”
- Israel’s war stance: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran’s regional allies no longer pose an “existential threat”, but Israel intends to continue the war and its Lebanon offensive.
- Israel, the ‘elephant in the room’: Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall says Iran may view a US withdrawal as a victory, but Israel’s ongoing war in Lebanon and Tehran’s support for its allies could prolong the conflict.
In Lebanon, Iraq
- Regional threats: The Iraqi armed group Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada warned that if US troops use Kuwaiti territory to launch a land invasion into Iran, it would escalate the conflict into an “all-out war”.
- Israeli operations in Lebanon: Israel is pressing ahead with a ground invasion and heavy bombardment, issuing mass evacuation orders and planning a “security zone”, with officials saying several areas may be occupied after the war.
- Rising casualties and displacement: Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million in Lebanon since March 2.