The end of the United States' war on Iran could be near, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say, with Washington signalling potential for both direct talks with Tehran's leadership and a winding down of the conflict even without a deal.
The remarks underscored the shifting and at times contradictory timelines and statements from Washington about how and when the war, now in its fifth week, might end.
"We'll be leaving very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, saying the exit could take place "within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three".
Asked if successful diplomacy was a prerequisite for the US to end what it calls Operation Epic Fury, Trump said it was not.
"Iran doesn't have to make a deal, no," he said.
Washington had previously threatened to intensify operations if Tehran did not accept a 15-point US ceasefire framework that had among its core demands that Iran commit not to pursue nuclear weapons, halt all uranium enrichment and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House said Trump would address the nation "to provide an important update on Iran" on Wednesday night (12pm on Thursday AEDT).
Rubio told Fox News Channel there was potential for a meeting between both sides and the United States could "see the finish line".
"It's not today, it's not tomorrow, but it is coming," Rubio said.
Still, attacks were reported on both sides early on Wednesday, with drones hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait's international airport causing a big blaze, and authorities in Bahrain reporting a fire at an undisclosed company facility from an Iranian attack.
A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile near the Qatari capital, Doha, damaging the hull at the waterline, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said, adding the crew were safe.
Explosions were heard in parts of Tehran early on Wednesday after US-Israeli air attacks, Iranian state media reported, with air defences activated.
Shahid Haghani Port, Iran's largest passenger terminal in Bandar Abbas port on the Gulf, was hit by an overnight air strike but there were no casualties, deputy governor Ahmad Nafisi told state media, calling it a "criminal" attack on civilian infrastructure.
Gulf countries, some home to US bases, have been repeatedly fired on by Tehran during the US-Israeli war, with concerns mounting about Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and ability to use the vital waterway, a conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, as a bargaining chip.
Higher oil and fuel prices have started to weigh on US household finances and are a political headache for Trump and his Republican Party before the November midterm elections.
The United Arab Emirates was preparing to help the US and allies open the Strait of Hormuz by force, the Wall Street Journal reported, in an effort to end its effective closure.
While the US has said talks with Iran are ongoing, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he had received direct messages from US special envoy Steve Witkoff, but those did not constitute negotiations.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday hit back with a new threat against US companies in the region starting on Wednesday, listing 18 businesses including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla and Boeing that would be targeted.
When asked if he was concerned about threats to the companies, Trump said no.
Trump earlier criticised countries that had not helped the US war effort, such as NATO member Britain.
"NATO is a one-way street," Rubio told Fox News, noting Europe was eager for the US to defend it but had not stepped up to provide the help the US sought.
"After this conflict is concluded, we are going to have to re-examine that relationship."
with AP