March 10, 2026 | 11:55 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has suggested that the war with Iran could soon reach a conclusion as the conflict enters its second week.
When asked by a reporter on Monday whether he anticipated the U.S. military operation to end this week or within a few days, Trump replied, "I think soon."
"Look, everything they have is gone, including their leadership. In fact, there are two levels of leadership, and even actually, as it turns out, more than that. But two levels of leadership are gone," he said, as quoted by CNN.
Trump's remarks followed the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to the position his father held for nearly four decades until his death in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on Saturday, February 28, 2026. He expressed "disappointment" with Iran's choice for a new supreme leader but stopped short of calling for his removal.
Contradictory Claims
However, just a few hours later, Trump issued contradictory statements.
Addressing Republican lawmakers, Trump said, "We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough." He further emphasized that the U.S. "will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated."
He added that the U.S. military has attacked more than 5,000 targets since the war started, but is leaving "some of the most important targets for later in case we need to do it."
Meanwhile, addressing the surge in oil prices triggered by the war, Trump stated he would "waive certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices." He did not specify which sanctions would be lifted. He also argued that the war would ultimately drive down oil prices in the long term.
Initial War Claims
Regarding the decision to strike first, Trump claimed that Iran was going to "take over the Middle East" if the U.S. and Israel had not acted.
He further asserted that Iran declared ongoing nuclear aspirations during limited negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials earlier this year.
Trump then suggested that another country might have carried out the initial attack, claiming that Iran and other nations possess Tomahawk missiles similar to those used. However, the Tomahawk is not a "generic" weapon as Trump implied; while the U.S., Britain, and Australia possess the missile, Iran does not.
Asian Stocks Recover on Trump's Vow
Asian stocks partially recovered from the previous day's losses on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, after oil prices dropped below $90 per barrel from a four-year high.
The market gains followed a statement from G7 finance ministers pledging to take "necessary measures" to address rising energy costs. Additionally, Asian exchanges reacted positively to President Trump's conflicting suggestion that the war against Iran may soon end.
Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark surged 3.3 percent in early trading, while South Korea's Kospi rose 6.2 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.6 percent.
Global stocks and oil prices have continued to fluctuate since the U.S. and Israel launched the attack on Iran over a week ago, triggering the largest global energy crisis in decades. Despite the recovery in Asia, investor concerns persist as the conflict continues in the Middle East, the primary source of oil for most Asian economies.
Read: Trump Demands Say in Selection of Iran's New Leader
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