Trump’s Major Announcement: US Troops to Withdraw from Iran Within Two to Three Weeks, Warns of Leaving NATO

 

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2026 –

 US President Donald Trump has made a series of significant announcements regarding the Iran war today. He stated that the United States will withdraw its troops from Iran within the next two to three weeks. In addition, he dismissed NATO as a “paper tiger” and declared that the question of US membership in the alliance is “no longer up for reconsideration.”

President Trump is scheduled to address the nation tonight at 9:00 PM local time, where he is expected to provide further details on ending the war and outlining next steps.

Troop Withdrawal Timeline

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the US military operation in Iran is ending “very soon.” Regarding the timeline, he specified it could happen “within two weeks, maybe two to three weeks.”

Notably, Trump stated that the US could withdraw troops without a formal agreement with Iran. He said, “I don’t need to have a deal with Iran. As soon as we are sure they cannot develop nuclear weapons in the long term, we will leave.”

Ceasefire Claim and Conditions

Trump claimed that Iran’s new leadership has requested a “ceasefire” from the United States. Following this unverified claim, he laid out conditions: “Until the Strait of Hormuz is free, independent, and clean, we will not consider a ceasefire. Until that happens, we will destroy Iran.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes. Since the start of the Iran war, Iran has effectively closed this route, causing major disruptions to global energy markets.

Warning of NATO Exit

Expressing frustration over European allies’ perceived lack of support during the Iran war, Trump suggested that US membership in NATO may no longer be tenable. In an interview with The Telegraph, he labeled NATO a “paper tiger” and stated that the question of US membership in the alliance “has gone beyond reconsideration.”

He also made sarcastic remarks about the British Royal Navy, saying, “You (Britain) don’t even have a navy. You are using very old and obsolete aircraft carriers.” He also criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of being preoccupied with expensive wind turbines.

Oil Prices and Economic Impact

Since the start of the Iran war, oil prices in the US have surged past $100 per barrel, and gasoline prices have exceeded $4 per gallon. Trump claimed that withdrawing troops from Iran would cause energy prices to drop quickly.

However, the economic toll of the war has significantly impacted Trump’s approval ratings. Recent polls show his approval rating has fallen below 40 percent, with a majority of Americans expressing support for quickly ending the Iran war.

Regional Situation

The US and Israel have claimed that their joint military operations have severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the campaign is “systematically destroying” the Iranian regime.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to launch retaliatory strikes. Drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran have occurred in Kuwait and Bahrain. Recently, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, coordinating with Iran and Hezbollah for the first time, launched missiles at Israel.

Pakistan has reportedly been mediating ceasefire efforts between the parties, though no significant breakthrough has been achieved so far.

Next Steps

Trump’s address tonight is expected to be pivotal in shaping the future course of the Iran war. The White House said the speech would provide “important updates” on the Iran issue.

Amid Trump’s indications of troop withdrawal and threats of leaving NATO, global markets showed signs of cautious optimism. Oil prices eased slightly, and stock markets in Asia and Europe moved higher.