Carmel Crimmins

US President Donald Trump says the Iran war finish line is in sight, despite the fact that the Strait of Hormuz remains shut.

And Washington is signalling potential for direct talks with Tehran and a winding down of the war, even without a deal.

That contradicts Trump's previous threat to intensify attacks if Iran didn't accept his 15-point plan.

According to a Reuters Ipsos poll, two-thirds of Americans want a swift end to the war, even if Trump's goals are not met.

The White House says Trump will address the nation this evening to provide an important update on Iran.

Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and its NATO allies are growing as Trump increasingly makes it clear he's not happy with the lack of military support for the war in Iran.

France, Italy and Spain have all denied the US use of their airspace or military bases for the war, with Spain closing its airspace entirely and Italy blocking American bombers from landing in Sicily.

And Trump is warning the US will remember.

On Tuesday, our Pentagon reporter Phil Stewart asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if that was the case.

We called up Phil after that press conference.

Trump has consistently criticized allies for not jumping into this war, but Phil says that's not what the alliance is designed for.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump says countries who don't join the US in its strikes on Iran and are concerned about oil shortages due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should go it alone.

And as tensions rise with the US over the war in Iran, Britain is deploying the soft power of the monarchy to smooth things over.

Buckingham Palace announcing that King Charles is set to make a state visit to the US at the end of April.

The high-stakes diplomatic mission is aimed at repairing relations with President Trump over the UK's reluctance to join the conflict.

Trump has repeatedly blasted Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he's no Winston Churchill.

The Trump administration is proposing a new rule that would open the door for Americans 401ks to invest in alternative assets like private equity and cryptocurrencies.

Industry experts say the move could boost returns, but critics warn they could expose retirement savings to higher fees and greater risk.

With more than $14 trillion in retirement assets potentially affected, the proposal has sparked a fierce debate about what belongs in ordinary Americans' nest eggs.

Isla Binney covers finance.