US President Donald Trump on Wednesday indicated that American forces may leave Iran in the near future, even as he kept the option of conducting limited targeted strikes if required. Speaking ahead of a scheduled primetime address to the nation, Trump suggested that the US would not maintain a prolonged military presence in the region.

In remarks to Reuters, Trump said he could not specify an exact timeline but emphasised that the US would be “out pretty quickly.” He added that if circumstances demanded, Washington could return to carry out precision operations.

During his upcoming 9 pm address, Trump is also expected to outline broader strategic decisions, including the possibility of reassessing America’s role in NATO. He said he was seriously considering reducing or ending US participation in the alliance, arguing that member nations had failed to adequately support US objectives during the Iran conflict. Expressing frustration, he described the relationship as unequal and criticised allies for not standing by Washington when needed.

Trump further claimed that recent US military actions had effectively neutralised Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons. According to him, Tehran is now incapable of producing such arms, and this outcome represents a key objective achieved.

Iran, however, has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes and has denied any ambition to build nuclear weapons.

The US President also suggested that leadership changes in Tehran following recent airstrikes had created conditions favourable for a potential agreement. While he said regime change was not an original goal, he described it as a consequence of the conflict and expressed optimism that Iran’s new leadership may be open to a deal.

On the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves, Trump stated that the stockpile is deeply buried and not an immediate threat, though US surveillance efforts would continue.

Tehran has disputed claims of direct negotiations, stating that only indirect communication through intermediaries has taken place.

Earlier in the day, Trump said Iran’s new leadership had indicated interest in a ceasefire. However, he tied any pause in military action to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route responsible for transporting roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. He made clear that Washington would only consider a truce once the passage is fully accessible to global shipping.

The Strait has become a major point of tension after Iran imposed restrictions following US and Israeli strikes. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by asserting that it retains full control over the waterway and dismissed US demands as unreasonable.

Washington has warned that it could intensify military action if Tehran refuses a proposed ceasefire plan that reportedly includes halting uranium enrichment, abandoning nuclear weapons ambitions and reopening the Strait. Iran has rejected the framework.

Trump had earlier suggested that the US might withdraw within weeks even without a formal agreement, reflecting mounting domestic and international pressure over the prolonged conflict, rising oil prices and growing instability across the region.