Iran-US war to be over ‘in weeks not months’, says White House

WorldPolitics
17 Mar 2026 • 11:27 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The White House is optimistic the conflict with Iran will conclude within weeks, despite Donald Trump's stated intention to see the war through to its end.
  • Economic advisor Kevin Hassett indicated that tankers are starting to pass through the straits, suggesting Iran has limited resources remaining.
  • Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Centre, resigned in protest, stating the US initiated the war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.
  • Israel claimed to have killed security chief Ali Larijani and Basij head Gholamreza Soleimani in fresh strikes, following an Iranian attack on the US embassy in Baghdad.
  • Iran has not confirmed the reported deaths of Larijani and Soleimani, as Tehran launched further attacks across the Middle East in the war's third week.

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