The Biggest Takeaways From Trump’s Iran Address As He Signals Next Moves

President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that the U.S. military objectives in Iran are “nearing completion” of Operation Epic Fury and that he expects the war to last another two to three weeks. 

In a roughly 20-minute primetime address to the nation, Trump outlined the goals of Operation Epic Fury and signaled that it is entering its final phase.

“Our armed forces have been extraordinary. There’s never been anything like it militarily. Everyone is talking about it. And tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said. 

He added that the United States is “on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly,” adding, “We are going to hit them extremely hard. Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong.”

Trump also compared the operation’s expected duration to longer wars such as Vietnam and World War II, emphasizing that this conflict would be significantly shorter. 

Addressing economic concerns, Trump pointed to rising gas prices following the start of the war on February 28, which have climbed to more than $4.00 per gallon nationwide. He attributed the increase to Iranian attacks on oil tankers and said prices would fall once the Strait of Hormuz reopens after the operation concludes. 

“This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict,” Trump said.

The president went on to reiterate his previous statements, indicating Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded, claiming its navy is “gone” and its air force “is in ruins.”

“Their leaders, most of them, the terrorist regime they led, are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated as we speak,” he said. “Their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons, factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces.”

Trump again argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective. 

“For these terrorists to have nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat,” Trump said. “The most violent and thuggish regime on Earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will never let that happen, and neither should any of our past presidents.”