The White House said President Trump will address the nation Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern about the war with Iran; press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “an important update” and provided no further detail. The announcement came after Trump on Tuesday said he expected the fighting to end in “two to three weeks,” adding “we’ll be leaving very soon” and predicting fuel prices would “come tumbling down.” He downplayed the impact of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz — which carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies — saying the U.S. would have “nothing to do with it” and suggesting other countries could “fend for themselves.” He has also told some European allies to “go get your own oil.”
Those comments followed a series of tougher statements from the president about possible escalation, including threats to seize Iranian oil, destroy electric generating and desalination plants, and consider an invasion of Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday echoed Trump’s short timeline, saying one primary goal — preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon — had been achieved. Rubio described objectives including destroying Iran’s air force and navy, sharply degrading its missile-launching capacity, and striking its military-industrial facilities. He did not use the phrase “regime change,” a goal the administration had previously raised; Trump has at times claimed regime change has already been achieved.
Key developments on day 33 of the conflict:
Regional fighting and casualties
– Israeli military statements said strikes have targeted hundreds of locations inside Iran while expanding operations into Lebanon. Iran and its proxies have continued retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region, including strikes on bases used by U.S. forces; one such attack in Saudi Arabia reportedly injured as many as 20 U.S. service members.
– U.S. officials say 13 American service members have been killed since the war began; Iranian authorities report more than 1,700 dead.
– Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed missile attacks on Israel that were intercepted by Israeli defenses and vowed further escalation.
– Israeli emergency services reported that Iranian missiles fired at central Israel wounded 14 people, including children.
– Iranian drones struck fuel depots at Kuwait’s international airport, triggering a large fire a day after a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai was hit. In Qatar, a missile struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy; the company said there were no injuries or environmental damage.
Leaders respond at home
– British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the U.K., warning of a rising cost of living tied to the conflict and stressing that Britain would take only “defensive” action in response to Iranian attacks. He said the foreign secretary will convene an international summit on the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation.
– Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also spoke to the nation, announcing a three-month halving of the fuel excise to ease costs, urging use of public transport, warning against fuel hoarding, and cautioning that economic shocks from the war will linger for months.
Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
– Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee, posted that the Strait of Hormuz would “reopen — but not for you,” telling Trump that “47 years of hospitality are over forever.” Iran’s legislature approved a bill to charge vessels for transiting the waterway.
– About 20,000 seafarers remain aboard ships trapped near the strait in what the U.N. characterizes as an active war zone; some vessels face shortages of food and water. The International Maritime Organization is negotiating with all sides to evacuate crews and restore safe passage.
Kidnapping of U.S. journalist in Iraq
– American freelance reporter Shelly Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday, Iraqi and U.S. officials said. Iraqi security forces intercepted a crashed vehicle and detained one suspected kidnapper, but searches for Kittleson and other suspects continue. U.S. officials said they are coordinating with Iraqi authorities and the FBI to secure her release. Iraqi reports linked a suspect to the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah; press freedom groups called for immediate action to find and free Kittleson.
U.S. military movements and morale
– Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unpublicized trip to the region over the weekend to visit U.S. troops. He said he spoke with Air Force and Navy pilots conducting strikes over Iran and engaging defensive operations against drones, and described an “urgency to finish the job.” Hegseth highlighted efforts to improve bunkers and layered air defenses to protect personnel and aircraft. The Pentagon has described the campaign as Operation Epic Fury and said some 13 U.S. personnel have died and roughly 300 been wounded in related operations.
Humanitarian and economic fallout
– The U.N. World Food Programme warned that tens of thousands of tons of food aid are stuck at ports because carriers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz and some shippers are reluctant to use the Suez Canal amid attack fears. Disruptions are extending transit times and driving up costs as fuel prices spike. The WFP said if current conditions persist through June, an additional 45 million people could fall into acute hunger, bringing the global total to about 363 million.
Diplomacy
– Pakistan and China’s foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for talks to end the war as part of a broader peace plan, urging a halt to hostilities, protection of civilian infrastructure, and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani officials have expressed interest in mediating, while China — a major Iranian oil customer — is seen as sympathetic to Tehran.
The situation remains fluid ahead of the president’s planned address. Officials have offered competing assessments of progress and timelines, and the conflict continues to produce regional military strikes, economic disruption and humanitarian concern.