President Donald Trump has declared that the US–Israel war against Iran may be winding down, telling the outlet Axios on Wednesday that there is "practically nothing left" for American forces to bomb — though conflicting signals from Washington and Tel Aviv are keeping the world on edge.

In remarks that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, Trump stated plainly: "Any time I want it to end, it will end." The president also boasted that the military campaign has moved "way ahead of the timetable," claiming greater damage than planners had anticipated in the original six-week window for operations.

But those optimistic words stand in sharp contrast to the view from Israel. Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the Israeli operation against Iran will continue "without any time limit, as long as required, until we accomplish all objectives and achieve victory in the campaign" — language that suggests the two allies are not yet on the same page about when fighting will stop.

Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, when pressed directly on Tuesday by CNBC about how the war might end, gave a candid two-word answer: "I don't know." Earlier in the week, Trump himself told The Times of Israel that any end to fighting would be a "mutual" decision reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signalling that the US would not withdraw from the operation on its own.

Despite Trump's thundering threats of "death, fire and fury" if Iran keeps blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has so far largely shut the waterway to commercial shipping — sending global oil prices soaring and spreading economic uncertainty far beyond the Middle East. On Wednesday alone, three vessels were reported attacked near the strategic chokepoint.

Adding to the confusion, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted to social media platform X on Tuesday that the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through Hormuz — a claim he quickly deleted. The White House subsequently confirmed the post was not accurate. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later accused US officials of "posting fake news to manipulate markets."

Compounding matters, the US military's Central Command issued an unusual public warning on Wednesday asking Iranian dockworkers, port personnel and commercial vessel crews to keep away from Iranian naval ships and military equipment, noting that Iranian forces had positioned military vessels within civilian ports serving commercial traffic.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke Wednesday with the leaders of both Russia and Pakistan, reaffirming that any end to the war must involve recognition of Iran's "legitimate rights," payment of war reparations, and "firm international guarantees" that Tehran will not be attacked again. He also attributed responsibility for the conflict to what he called the "Zionist regime and the US."

It remains deeply unclear whether Iran would honour a ceasefire announced solely by the United States, given the conditions Pezeshkian has laid out publicly. Iran's government has shown no signs of internal collapse under the strikes — and last week, the Assembly of Experts chose Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (killed in opening US–Israeli strikes on February 28), as the country's new top leader. Trump had strongly opposed that succession, and has repeatedly asserted that the US must have a role in shaping Iran's future government.

Asked directly on Wednesday whether he could declare victory while the younger Khamenei remains in charge, Trump declined to answer: "I don't want to comment on that."

The stated aims of the US campaign have shifted considerably since it began. Trump initially framed the operation as bringing "freedom" to the Iranian people. As Tehran's governing structure proved far more resilient than anticipated, US officials have pivoted to describing the goals as destroying Iran's nuclear, missile, drone and naval capabilities. Trump's aides maintain that the president alone will determine when those objectives have been met.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy offered a pointed critique after attending a classified briefing with administration officials on Tuesday. He described the apparent goal as simply "destroying lots of missiles and boats and drone factories" — and posed a question that, he said, stumped officials in the room: What happens when the bombing stops and Iran simply restarts production? "They hinted at more bombing," Murphy wrote on X. "Which is, of course, endless war."