Iran-Israel war LIVE updates: Trump says war could end in ‘two weeks, maybe three’; tanker hit by ‘unknown’ projectile off Qatar

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2026, in Washington.
| Photo Credit:
AP

U.S. President Donald Trump, in his latest statement, said that the war with Iran “may be over in two or three weeks”. He also lashed out on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) at allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the U.S. war effort, declaring that securing the Strait of Hormuz is “not for us.” This came after China and Pakistan on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) put forward a five-point peace proposal to end the West Asia war.

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A tanker ‌was hit by an ⁠unknown projectile about 17 ‌nautical miles ‌north ‌of ⁠Qatar’s Doha, causing ⁠damage to the hull ‌above the waterline, the United Kingdom ‌Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on ⁠Wednesday (April 1, 2026), adding that the ‌vessel’s crew were safe. 

In other developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint campaign against Iran had “changed the face of the Middle East”, stressing that “sooner or later” the Iranian regime will fall. In Lebanon, the health ministry said early Wednesday (April 1, 2026) that seven people were killed in Israeli strikes in south Beirut and a nearby area and the Israeli military said it had struck a senior Hezbollah commander.

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday (March 31) that they would target leading U.S. technology firms like Apple, Google and Meta if more Iranian leaders were killed in “targeted assassinations”. Listing out 18 companies it alleged were complicit in the killing of officials, the Guards issued a statement warning that “destruction of their relevant units” can be expected starting from 8:00 p.m. (1630 GMT) Tehran time on Wednesday (April 1, 2026).

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