Trump says Middle East conflict timeline unclear; 78% targets hit, warns of escalation if talks fail

Trump said the United States had completed about 78 percent of the intended objectives in the first four weeks of operations and was now “sitting back” to consider the possibility of a negotiated solution. But he warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to further military action as the remaining 25% of targets were still covered.
#WRISTWATCH | Regarding how long the West Asian conflict will last, US President Donald Trump said, “… How many years has it been Vietnam?… I took the country out militarily in the first 4 weeks. Now we sit back and see what kind of deal we can make. If they don’t want to make a deal,… pic.twitter.com/1MCk5kIGhl
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2026
Emphasizing the pressure on the other side, Trump pointed out the weaknesses in oil logistics and stated that restrictions in storage capacity could seriously disrupt energy infrastructures within a few days. “If they don’t move their oil, their entire oil infrastructure will explode,” he said, adding that long-term shutdowns could permanently damage underground reserves.
He argued that the United States does not face an immediate emergency because military assets are “locked and loaded” and ready to be deployed if necessary. He also described the enemy as “disorganized” amid the ongoing conflict.
Also Read: Donald Trump says US will not use nuclear weapons in war with Iran
On the humanitarian front, Trump said he intervened to prevent the executions of eight young women, calling it a “moral demand.” According to him, the authorities decided not to carry out the executions; Four of them will be released shortly, while the remaining four will be released after being detained for one month.


