US President Trump says the Iranian war will end soon; says Iran is "not ready" for deal; cost of conflict is "negligible"; declines to comment on ground troops in Iran

Reaction details (14:00)

• Downticks across crude prices seen in tandem with these comments from the US President. 


• Note weakness was seen across crude last Monday (9th March) after Trump suggested the war will end soon.

Analysis details (13:59)

Over the weekend:

• Trump said he ordered a strike that wiped out every military target on Kharg Island, where Iran exports nearly all of its oil, but left the oil infrastructure intact.


• Trump said he would reconsider hitting that oil infrastructure if Iran interferes with safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz.


• Trump said he is hearing Iran’s new supreme leader may be dead.


• Trump said it is not clear whether Iran has laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz.


• Trump said he is not ready to make a deal with Iran because the terms are not good enough.


• Trump said the recent Kharg strikes demolished most of the island and that the US may hit it a few more times “just for fun”.


• Trump posted that the US has destroyed 100% of Iran’s military capability.


• Trump said many countries will send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe.


• Trump said the US has had strong results in Iran.


• Trump said he does not believe Iran is ready to negotiate yet, but will be at some point.


• Trump said the US is talking to other countries about policing Hormuz, but cannot yet say which countries will help.


• Trump said some countries would rather not get involved.


• Trump called on NATO to help and said China should help on Hormuz.


• Trump warned NATO faces a very bad future if US allies fail to assist in reopening Hormuz.


• Trump said he expected China to help unblock Hormuz before his Beijing trip and may delay that trip, according to reports.


• Reports said Trump is seeking a Hormuz coalition and is weighing the seizure of Kharg Island if tankers remain bottled up, an option that would require US boots on the ground.


• Reports said the US administration plans as soon as this week to announce a coalition to escort ships through Hormuz, though it is still debating whether such operations would begin before or after hostilities end.


• Reports also said the administration rebuffed regional attempts to begin ceasefire talks.


• White House adviser Hassett said the Pentagon sees the war lasting four to six weeks, though the final decision rests with Trump.

16 Mar 2026 - 13:56- ForexImportant- Source: Market Source