American military officials have incorporated structured “exit strategies” into operational war plans against Iran, giving Donald Trump the ability to halt the conflict whenever he deems appropriate, according to six sources who spoke to NBCNews, who are reportedly involved in the planning. As the same sources point out, these plans are updated on a daily basis and are not limited only to field operations, but include detailed scenarios for ending military actions, as well as alternatives for possible escalation, in case the White House chooses to intensify pressure toward Tehran.
So far, Trump has not chosen to use any of these exit routes. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt gave the first official confirmation of the administration’s timeline assessment: “The President and the Pentagon have set an initial estimate of four to six weeks for fully achieving the clear military objectives.” However, she emphasized that “the operation will end only when the commander-in-chief judges that the threat from Iran has been eliminated.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt,
The President and the US military's initial timeline was about four to six weeks to achieve the full objectives of Operation Epic Fury,
again, to destroy their missiles and their ability to make them,destroy their navy, permanently pic.twitter.com/GRa0qaZ9T6— Global Post (@GlobalMediaEyeN) March 12, 2026
Despite Leavitt’s statement, sources within the administration note that the timeline is completely fluid. “The projection for the war’s duration can change on a daily basis,” said one source, referring to the changing situation on the ground and uncertainty regarding the Iranian regime’s surrender.
Trump told Axios the war would “end soon”
Furthermore, exit strategies have gained new significance as the American administration “struggles” with rising oil prices and growing doubts about whether Tehran will voluntarily lay down arms and accept US terms. Last week, Trump told Axios that the war would “end soon,” while at the same time Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized on CBS that “we’re only at the beginning.”
When asked Friday if he knows the war is over, Trump told Fox News: “When I feel it in my bones.”
Trump on when war with Iran will end:
"When I feel it. When I feel it in my bones" pic.twitter.com/liUZkdnSfe
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) March 13, 2026
Over the weekend he returned to the topic, saying that Iran is ready to end the war, but that “the terms are not good enough yet.” And while he may have refused to say what those terms would be, in the recent past he has publicly stated that there must be regime change, “unconditional surrender” and that Iran’s nuclear capability must be destroyed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, for his part, on Monday that Tehran “did not request a ceasefire” and that it will “continue this resistance without any hesitation,” thus making any prediction about the duration and way the battles will end risky.
