Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers that the United States and Israel had 'cut out the cancer' of Iran’s nuclear program, declaring that Tehran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon had been stopped. He said the military was prepared to deliver a decisive blow and argued that short term economic disruptions, including higher oil prices, were justified to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear arms.

Despite his public show of confidence, Trump has privately signaled that he wants the conflict to end within a four to six week window. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the White House had tentatively planned diplomatic engagements in mid May assuming the war would be over. Trump has reportedly told aides the conflict is distracting from domestic priorities and he remains reluctant to commit ground troops, even as additional forces are deployed to the region.

Iran has rejected an American ceasefire proposal and continued launching attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states, including a strike that hit a fuel facility in Kuwait. Iranian officials said they do not plan to negotiate, while mediators from Pakistan and Egypt have floated proposals involving sanctions relief, limits on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The fighting has disrupted global energy markets, with oil prices rising sharply since the war began. Although news of potential talks briefly eased prices, tensions remain high as both sides weigh military escalation against the possibility of a negotiated settlement.