US President Donald Trump signals potential end to hostilities with Iran, while temporarily easing sanctions on Iranian oil to ease global supply pressures. Iran launches new attacks on Israel and Saudi Arabia as regional tensions escalate
US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, on Friday. PIC/AFP
President Donald Trump on Friday said he was considering "winding down" military operations against Iran, as the United States (US) temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to ease a global supply crisis, news agency AFP reported.
The announcement came as Iran launched a fresh wave of drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel, following claims by supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei that Tehran had dealt a "dizzying blow" to its enemies.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the US was "getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East". Analysts noted this as the clearest sign yet that the US may be preparing to end hostilities that began on February 28, AFP reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a post on X shortly after Trump’s message, said, "The President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4–6 weeks to achieve this mission. Tomorrow marks week 3 — and the US Armed Forces are doing an exceptional job. Day by day, the Iranian Regime is being crippled, and their ability to threaten the United States and our allies is being significantly weakened."
Since Day One of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump clearly outlined the U.S. Military’s objectives to end the threat of the Iranian terrorist regime.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 20, 2026
The President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4-6 weeks to achieve this mission.
Tomorrow marks week… pic.twitter.com/A5F8UTxpPZ
Amid mounting global concern over oil prices, the US Treasury announced a temporary lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels. The authorisation, valid through April 19, permits the delivery and sale of Iranian crude and petroleum products loaded before March 20, AFP reported.
"By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding worldwide energy availability and helping relieve temporary supply pressures caused by Iran," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
West Asia conflict: Trump insists on winning, not truce
Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas normally flows, and repeated attacks on regional energy infrastructure have pushed crude prices higher. Brent crude rose 3.26 per cent on Friday to USD 112.19 a barrel.
Global stock markets also fell sharply amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions affecting the economy.
Meanwhile, fresh explosions hit Tehran, while Israel accused Iran of striking holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Old City near Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting over 20 Iranian drones early Saturday, while Israel said a new wave of missiles was fired from Iran.
Iranian strikes continued against energy infrastructure in the Gulf. Drone attacks hit Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery on Friday, causing a fire that was quickly controlled, a day after a direct hit on Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas facility.
In response, Israeli forces launched strikes on Beirut early Saturday targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, urging residents of some areas to evacuate. Turkey condemned Israeli attacks on Syrian army positions in southern Syria, calling them a "dangerous escalation." Syria has largely avoided direct involvement in the regional conflict.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he was not seeking a truce with Iran.
US President warns other nations to secure Strait of Hormuz
"I think we have won. I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side," he said.
After criticising North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies as "cowards," Trump added that other nations would need to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
"The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other nations who use it — the United States does not! If asked, we will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated," he stated.
Trump said Washington sought dialogue with Iran but found "nobody to talk to" after the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader and other top officials. Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, has not appeared in public since succeeding his father Ali Khamenei.
In a Nowruz statement, Khamenei claimed Iranians had "dealt him (the enemy) a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense," adding, "At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots… the enemy has been defeated."
While Trump has ruled out deploying ground troops, The Wall Street Journal reported that 2,200–2,500 additional US Marines are being sent to the region. The president did not confirm Axios reports that he might consider occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub. US strikes have "totally obliterated" military targets on the island, according to Trump, without targeting oil infrastructure.
(With AFP inputs)
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