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US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran is nearly complete but warned that the country would face “extremely hard” strikes over the next two to three weeks as Washington pushes toward its objectives.
In his first national address since the war began on February 28, Trump sought to reassure Americans weary of conflict that the offensive is justified.
“Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” he said from the White House. He added that the war’s “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” but cautioned that the next phase would be intense.
Trump also sought to reassure regional allies — Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain — who have been targeted by Iranian drone and missile attacks, stating that the United States “will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form.”
While leaving open the possibility of negotiations with Iran’s new leadership, which he described as “less radical and much more reasonable” than its predecessor, Trump indicated that military pressure would continue if a deal is not reached. He specifically warned that Washington has “our eyes on key targets including the country’s electric generating plants.”
The address did little to ease energy market concerns, with oil prices surging Thursday after Trump called on other nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, through which one-fifth of global oil normally passes, has been effectively closed, driving up energy prices and destabilizing the global economy.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed Wednesday to keep the Strait closed to the country’s “enemies.”
