By Elsie Kamsiyochi
WASHINGTON, President Donald Trump said the United States will withdraw its forces from Iran “pretty quickly,” but left open the possibility of returning for “spot hits” if Washington believes threats are re-emerging.
The remarks came in an exclusive interview with Reuters on Wednesday, just hours before Trump was scheduled to deliver a rare primetime address aimed at defining the next phase of a conflict now entering its fifth week.
The president, under intensifying pressure over soaring gasoline prices and mounting calls for an exit strategy, will speak to the nation at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT). His message will cap a high-visibility day that began with a historic visit to the U.S. Supreme Court — an appearance the White House said was intended to underscore respect for constitutional institutions during wartime.
Trump’s NATO Frustration Reaches New Peak
In the interview, Trump sharply criticized NATO leaders, accusing the transatlantic alliance of abandoning U.S. strategic aims in Iran. He said he is “absolutely” considering attempting to withdraw the United States from NATO — an unprecedented move that would require confronting decades of bipartisan foreign-policy consensus.
“They haven’t been friends when we needed them,” Trump said, describing NATO as a “one-way street” in which the U.S. provides security but receives little in return. Although he did not specify what support the alliance failed to provide, administration officials have privately expressed frustration over Europe’s reluctance to engage militarily in or near Iranian territory.
A Fast Exit — With Conditions
When asked when the Iran war might be considered over, Trump declined to provide a precise timeline.
“I can’t tell you exactly … we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” he said.
Trump insisted that U.S. operations have effectively dismantled Iran’s nuclear capability, claiming Tehran is “incapable” of developing a nuclear weapon.
“They won’t have a nuclear weapon because they are incapable of that now,” Trump said. “Then I’ll leave, and I’ll take everybody with me — and if we have to, we’ll come back to do spot hits.”
Iran has repeatedly denied any intention to pursue nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian use.
Regime Change and a Future Deal
The president also highlighted what he described as a dramatic opportunity for diplomacy following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. airstrikes earlier in the conflict.
“We have had full regime change,” Trump said. “I’m dealing with a very good chance that we’ll make a deal because they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”
He added that while regime change had not been his objective, it became an outcome “because of the casualties of war.”
Trump argued that Iran’s remaining enriched-uranium stockpiles — which international experts say are stored deep underground — no longer pose an urgent threat.
“That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that,” he said. “We’ll always be watching it by satellite.”
A High-Stakes Speech Ahead
Trump’s nationally televised address is expected to outline the administration’s next steps, explain the planned withdrawal, and respond to criticism from foreign allies and domestic lawmakers who say the U.S. strategy lacks clarity. With energy markets rattled and regional tensions surging, the speech may represent the administration’s most consequential wartime communication to date.
Reporting by Steve Holland. Writing by Katharine Jackson and Steve Holland. Editing by Michelle Nichols.
Source Reuters
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