The World in Brief from The Economist

Donald Trump said America could end its war against Iran in two or three weeks, whether “we have a deal or not”. Also, Asian and European stocks surged in response to the comments from America and Iran.

America’s war secretary, Pete Hegseth, implored Iran’s leaders to make a deal with Donald Trump, saying the country faced a “new regime”.

America’s war secretary implored Iran’s leaders to make a deal with Donald Trump, saying the country faced a “new regime"; The S&P 500 and NASDAQ indices posted their biggest gains in months and oil prices fell.

An Iranian drone struck a giant Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai, briefly pushing up the price of Brent crude. Also, rising energy costs pushed the euro zone’s annual inflation rate to 2.5% in March, up from 1.9% in February and well above the European Central Bank’s target of 2%.

Donald Trump threatened to “completely obliterate” Kharg Island, the site of Iran’s main oil-export terminal, as well as the country’s energy plants and oil wells.

Donald Trump threatened to “completely obliterate” Kharg Island, the site of Iran’s main oil-export terminal, as well as the country’s energy plants and oil wells; The UN said two of its peacekeepers were killed and two others wounded when an explosion destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon.

Donald Trump said America and Iran had talked “directly and indirectly” and that Iran’s new leaders were “very reasonable.” Also, earlier Iran accused America of “secretly planning a ground invasion” after more American troops were deployed to the Middle East.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, ordered the Israel Defence Forces to expand its “existing security zone” in southern Lebanon.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, ordered the Israel Defence Forces to expand its “existing security zone” in southern Lebanon; The speaker of Iran’s parliament said that America is “secretly planning a ground invasion” and that Iran is “waiting”.