U.S. President Donald Trump told Americans on Wednesday night that he expects the war on Iran to last another two to three weeks, but deemed it close to an end.

Trump in a televised address from the White House, touted the successes of the U.S. campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury and repeated what he has said multiple times recently — the war won’t last much longer, CNBC reported.

“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” he said.

Oil and stock markets reacted negatively to the speech.

The U.S. and Israel began the war on Feb. 28 with strikes around Iran, including one that killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“We’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong.”

Despite the apparent escalation, Trump said that “discussions are ongoing,” leaving a diplomatic resolution on the table.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next ‌week for what a spokesperson for the military alliance called a “long-planned visit” that comes after U.S. President Donald Trump blasted European allies over differences on the Iran war, Reuters reported.

“I can confirm that the Secretary General will be in ⁠DC next week for a long-planned visit,” Reuters quoted NATO spokesperson Allison Hart as saying. A White House official also confirmed the visit, according to Reuters.

Trump said he was considering pulling the U.S. out of the Western military alliance due to the refusal of European members to send ships to unblock the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

In ⁠remarks on Wednesday to allies gathered for an Easter lunch at the White House, Trump criticized France and the United Kingdom, among other U.S. allies, as a “paper tiger.”

“We’ve had some very bad allies in ⁠NATO,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying. “Hopefully, we’re never going to need them. I don’t think we will need them.”

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday after visiting fellow US ally Japan, where he praised Europe’s “predictability” in an apparent swipe at Donald Trump over the Iran war, AFP reported.

Macron’s two-day itinerary includes a summit with President Lee Jae Myung and a visit to a war memorial to pay tribute to French soldiers who fought in the Korean War, as well as an economic forum and dinner with K-pop stars and South Korean filmmakers.

In Japan, the French leader signed a roadmap on critical minerals and defence cooperation and held more talks on Thursday with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as well as meeting the imperial couple with his wife Brigitte Macron.

US President Trump called France “very unhelpful” over the Iran war on Tuesday and then made fun of Macron, saying a day later his wife “treats him extremely badly” while mimicking his accent.

Macron praised Europe’s “predictability” on Wednesday while in Japan, contrasting it with those that “could hurt you without even informing you” in an apparent reference to the United States, according to AFP.

The Parliament of Moldova has voted for the country’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

60 out of 101 deputies voted for the respective laws, according to local media reports.

The adopted documents must be signed by Moldovan President. After that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send the necessary papers to the CIS Executive Committee. The country’s final withdrawal from the organization will take place one year after this.

United States President Donald Trump has warned that US strikes could leave nothing of Iran.  He wrote on Truth Social, sharing a video of an explosion on the B1 bridge in Iran’s city of Karaj.

“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!” the president wrote on his platform Truth Social.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned late on Thursday ‌about striking and destroying bridges and electric power plants in Iran.

The U.S. military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

His post said that Iran’s leadership “knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”

Trump said in a televised speech on Wednesday that the war could escalate if Iran did not give in to Washington’s terms, with strikes on its energy and oil infrastructure possible.

NovAir has relaunched flights between Yerevan and the town of Kapan in Syunik following a temporary suspension due to maintenance of its L-410 Turbolet, currently the only aircraft in its fleet.

Armenpress spoke with NovAir CEO Karen Vardanyan, who also serves as the director of Syunik Airport in Kapan.

Syunik Airport is currently designated as a domestic airport. Following a recently approved investment program, the airport could begin serving international flights. If implemented, Syunik Airport would become Armenia’s third international airport, after Yerevan’s Zvartnots and Gyumri’s Shirak airports.

Asked to comment on the process, Vardanyan said that work is ongoing but did not provide further details.

Speaking about his airline’s flights, Vardanyan emphasized that in September 2025, when the company’s only aircraft reached 10 years of operation, it was transferred to Brno, Czech Republic, under a technical maintenance program, where it underwent full servicing. After the work was completed, the aircraft returned to Armenia on March 24 this year, and flights resumed shortly thereafter.

“Since September 3, 2025, flights had been suspended solely for technical safety reasons,” Vardanyan said.

He emphasized that NovAir complies with all necessary standards and requirements. Flights are carried out according to the approved schedule, fully adhering to international safety and technical maintenance standards.

“The program has been gradually expanded due to growing demand. In 2023, it was launched with two flights per week, then increased to three, and since April 2024 it has been operating five days a week—Monday through Friday. The flight departs from Yerevan at 10:00, and the return flight from Kapan is at 12:00. Ticket pricing follows a social approach. Despite the significantly higher actual cost, the one-way ticket price has not changed and remains 20,000 drams.

“Thus, the Kapan–Yerevan flight program, having overcome the temporary suspension, continues to operate, with the aim of expanding opportunities in the near future,” Vardanyan stated.

Addressing whether NovAir plans to acquire a second aircraft to avoid suspending flights during maintenance periods, Vardanyan said:

“Financial constraints do not currently allow for large-scale expansion of the program. At present, the airline does not have the capacity to acquire a second aircraft, but this issue could be reconsidered if state subsidies are provided,” he noted.

Speaking about the possibility of launching new routes from Kapan Airport, particularly flights to Gyumri, Vardanyan said it would depend on demand:

“The launch of new destinations depends on demand. For example, the possibility of a Kapan–Gyumri flight can be considered if there is sufficient demand,” he said.

The issue of granting Syunik Airport international status has previously been discussed at a Cabinet meeting.

Asked to comment, Vardanyan did not elaborate but said that “steps are being taken” to designate Syunik Airport as an international airport.

Armenpress also requested comment from Sona Harutyunyan, press secretary of Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. She said the issue of granting Syunik Airport international status is on the government’s agenda, without further elaboration.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk has said there are no “objective reasons” to sell the management rights of Armenian railways—currently held by Russia—to another country.

“It is obvious to us that there is no objective reason for selling the concession agreement of the South Caucasian Railways to a third country,” Overchuk told TASS news agency.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously called for an end to Russian management of Armenia’s railway network, which operates under a concession agreement. He specifically stated that, in the context of current regional connectivity development projects, it would be preferable for another country—particularly one with friendly ties to both Armenia and Russia—to take over management. He argued that some countries might choose not to make shipments through Armenia due to Russian management of the railway system, thereby reducing Armenia’s competitiveness.

Earlier in March, reports emerged about ongoing talks regarding a potential Kazakh takeover of the management rights. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, at a press briefing on April 1, said that Russia is not negotiating on the matter with either Armenia or Kazakhstan.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk emphasized the fundamental principle of consensus in decision-making within the Eurasian Economic Union and said that, therefore, no decision contradicting the interests of member state Armenia can be made.

“In our common economic integration union, decision-making operates on the principle of consensus. Armenia’s voice is equal to that of Russia and the other member states, regardless of the size of its economy or territory. Within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, no decision will be made if it does not align with Armenia’s interests,” Overchuk told the TASS news agency.

He also stressed that Russia does not obstruct Armenia from seeking new partners and expanding its external markets, including in the United States and the European Union.

“We ourselves propose to continue working and developing together, and for this, it is necessary for our businesses to be able to operate there, just as Armenian businesses should be able to operate here. We have also been told that the presence of Russian businesses is an obstacle to Armenia realizing its competitive advantages. At the same time, Russia has opened its market to Armenian goods, services, capital, and labor. The figures show the closeness of our countries and peoples,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Overchuk added that the foundation of building international relations is based on the principles of reciprocity and equality.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of an exhibition showcasing a unique specimen of medieval Armenian woodcraft—a wooden door leaf from an Armenian church dating back to 1188, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The artifact, considered an exceptional example of historical and cultural value, was acquired from the Sam Fogg gallery in London. The acquisition was carried out by a government decision within the framework of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports’ state program aimed at acquiring and repatriating cultural values.

A total of 175.36 million drams was allocated from the state budget reserve fund to the Cultural Development Fund for the purchase and transportation of the artifact, which had been put up for sale at an international auction.

Carved from oriental walnut, the piece dates back to the Bagratuni period and represents an outstanding example of medieval Christian art. Its iconography combines biblical and royal themes.

The central composition depicts the biblical scene of Daniel among the lions, while the lower sections illustrate various animal fighting scenes associated with the symbolism of Daniel’s vision. The composition also features a “winged” type of cross adorned with floral motifs symbolizing fruitfulness, reflecting the concept of the tree of life in Armenian church art.

The exhibition will open to the public at the History Museum of Armenia on April 3.