U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran is nearing its final phase, but he warned that Iran will face extremely intense attacks over the next two to three weeks as Washington continues pressure to achieve its military objectives; speaking from the White House in a national address on Wednesday night, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans, saying the sacrifices made in the campaign have been worthwhile and emphasizing that the U.S. is on the right path to quickly achieving all military goals, adding that the core strategic objectives are now close to completion while cautioning that “very severe and powerful strikes” will continue in the coming weeks; he also reassured regional allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain that the United States will not allow them to be harmed or fail under any circumstances; Trump signaled that the door to negotiations with Iran’s new leadership may still be open, describing them as less hardline and more rational than their predecessors, though he warned that if no agreement is reached, Washington will target critical infrastructure including power facilities; his remarks failed to calm global energy markets, as oil prices rose again Thursday amid concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, with disruptions causing sharp increases in fuel prices and instability in the global economy, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has pledged to keep the waterway closed to its enemies; meanwhile, Trump acknowledged that fuel prices in the United States have risen by more than 25 percent since the conflict began, creating economic pressure on citizens, but he described the increase as temporary and blamed Iran for attacking commercial oil tankers in the region, arguing that such actions prove Iran cannot be trusted regarding nuclear matters; he further claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have significantly deteriorated, stating that its navy is effectively destroyed, its air force is in ruins, and its ability to launch missiles and drones has been drastically reduced, with weapons factories and launch systems largely eliminated and only limited equipment remaining; concluding his remarks, Trump declared that the United States is achieving a greater victory than ever before, asserting that Iran’s military structure has collapsed, many of its top leaders are no longer in place, and its operational capacity has been severely weakened.
Iran war nearing end, but devastating attacks will continue for weeks: Trump
