US eyes a swift end to war as fresh attacks hit Gulf states and Iran

Key Points:

• U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the Iran war, now in its fifth week, could end soon, with Trump suggesting U.S. forces might leave within two to three weeks even without a diplomatic deal.
• Despite talk of potential direct talks between Washington and Tehran, attacks continued, including drone strikes on Kuwait's airport, a tanker hit near Qatar, and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian and Hezbollah targets.
• Gulf countries remain tense due to Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, while oil markets showed subdued trading amid hopes for de-escalation following U.S. statements.
• Iran denied that recent U.S. communications constitute negotiations, describing them as threats delivered through intermediaries, and threatened to target 18 U.S. companies in the region starting Wednesday.
• The conflict has expanded regionally, with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launching missiles at Israel and Israeli strikes killing civilians and targeting Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon, escalating the broader Middle East tensions.