US Says Iran War Could End Within Weeks as Civilian Toll Mounts

0:00 Good evening. It's Friday, March 27th, 2026.

0:04 I'm Alice Beth, and this is your latest NEWS UPDATE from GLOBAL

0:08 News Daily. the United States says its military operation in

0:12 Iran could end in weeks, not months.

0:16 Speaking after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, US Secretary

0:21 of State Marco Rubio said Washington believes it can

0:24 achieve its objectives without deploying ground troops.

0:28 He also suggested Iran may consider introducing A tolling

0:32 system for the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could have major

0:36 implications for global shipping and energy markets.

0:40 Meanwhile, Iran is accusing the US and Israel of targeting

0:45 civilian infrastructure. State media reports comments

0:49 from Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, who claims strikes have

0:52 hit civilian sites including major steel factories, a power

0:56 plant and nuclear related facilities.

1:00 Israel says it has struck the Arak heavy water plant in

1:03 central Iran, a site linked to the country's nuclear program.

1:08 Aragchi has warned that Iran will exact a heavy price in

1:12 response. Across the wider region,

1:15 tensions remain high. Several Gulf nations, including

1:19 the United Arab Emirates, report fresh missile and drone

1:22 activity, with air defence systems intercepting incoming

1:26 threats launched from Iran. At the same time, humanitarian

1:30 concerns are intensifying. The UN's human rights chief says

1:35 a deadly strike on an Iranian school at the start of the

1:38 conflict sparked visceral horror.

1:40 One mother who lost two children in that attack says the truth

1:44 must be brought to light. For our deep dive and analysis,

1:49 unlock the exclusive subscriber episode in Apple Podcast now.

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1:57 Thanks for listening, Global News Daily.