Trump: US to leave Iran in 'two or three weeks', market signal

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that U.S. forces would be leaving Iran “in two or three weeks,” suggesting that the current campaign of attacks would conclude soon. The statement added a new timeline to an already fluid and closely watched military and diplomatic situation.

Trump also said the United States would not be responsible for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and urged nations that rely on the waterway to assume greater responsibility; Pentagon officials echoed calls for allies to step up. The administration framed the comments as part of a transition from active strikes toward other measures, but observers cautioned that an announced timeline does not necessarily mean immediate troop movements or an abrupt end to operations.

Markets responded quickly: international crude benchmarks eased and global equity indices posted relief gains as traders priced in reduced near-term risk of wider escalation. Market data showed Brent crude trading in the low $100s per barrel and WTI moving in similar territory, while broad equity futures recovered some of the losses seen during the height of the conflict. The volatility underlined how sensitive energy and risk assets remain to geopolitical developments.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of an intense month-long confrontation that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven spikes in energy prices and inflation expectations. Given the strait’s outsized role in seaborne oil flows, any credible signal that lowers the chance of prolonged disruption has immediate macroeconomic implications, from global supply chains to central bank inflation assessments.

Analysts say that while Trump’s timeline could calm markets in the very short term, sustainable stability depends on on-the-ground verification, diplomatic progress and coordinated allied action to secure shipping lanes. Investors will closely monitor whether withdrawal plans are accompanied by formal agreements or international tasking to police the strait, and will adjust positions rapidly if subsequent events contradict the administration’s public timetable.