US President Donald Trump has indicated that military operations against Iran may soon be scaled down, suggesting that key objectives are close to being achieved. His remarks come amid rising tensions following a series of retaliatory strikes between Iran, the US and Israel since February 28.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” referring to Iran as a “terror regime.” The statement marks his clearest signal yet that the ongoing hostilities could soon enter a de-escalation phase.

Gas field strike triggers global concerns

The latest escalation was sparked after Israel targeted a major Iranian gas field earlier this week. In response, Iran struck the world’s largest LNG facility in Qatar, located across the same gas field. The exchange has pushed global energy markets into volatility, with both gas and oil prices rising sharply.

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Following the fallout, Trump said Israel would refrain from further strikes on the Iranian gas field, indicating a possible effort to prevent additional disruption to global energy supplies.

Pentagon timeline and battlefield developments

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 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,” she said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Iran claimed its air defence systems had “seriously damaged” a US F-35 stealth fighter. US Central Command confirmed that one aircraft made an emergency landing, adding that the pilot was safe and in stable condition.

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Sanctions eased to stabilise oil supply

Amid concerns over supply shortages, the US Treasury announced a temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels before March 20. The authorisation will remain in effect until April 19.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “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 the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran.”