02/04/2026 – 6:04 GMT+2
Speaking in his first national address since the war began on 28 February, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the offensive was worth the effort.
US President Donald Trump said his country will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion” in his first national address in defence of the war since the conflict began in late February.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
At the same time, he said Iran would continue to face a barrage of attacks in the short term.
“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”
The speech came as Trump faces plunging approval ratings, economic jitters and spiralling diplomatic fallout from the war.
Trump used his platform to attempt to reassure war-weary Americans the offensive was worth the effort, but also spent much of the 20-minute speech repeating many things he had already said in recent weeks and providing few new details.
The speech appeared unlikely to move the needle of public sentiment at a time when polling shows many Americans feel the US military has gone too far in Iran and as gas and oil prices remain high.
The effect on global financial markets was more immediate, with oil rising more than 4% and Asian stocks falling after Trump’s comments about the US continuing to hit Iran hard.
Trump did not mention the possibility of sending US ground troops into Iran, nor did he reference NATO, the trans-Atlantic alliance he has railed against for not helping secure the critical Strait of Hormuz, where a chokehold by Iran has sent energy prices soaring.
He also didn’t say anything about negotiations with Iran or bring up his 6 April deadline for Iran to reopen the waterway or face severe retaliation from the US.
Trump touts victories as strikes continue
Trump ticked through a timeline of past American involvement in conflicts and noted that the ongoing war in Iran had lasted just 32 days, seeming to appeal to the public for more time to achieve the mission.
“World War I lasted one year, seven months and five days,” he said. “World War II lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days.” Trump also added references to Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
He also noted that in “these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield.” He said US military action had been “so powerful, so brilliant” that “one of the most powerful countries” is “really no longer a threat” — even as Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbors early Thursday.
The president encouraged countries reliant on oil through the Strait of Hormuz to “build some delayed courage” and go “take it.”
Meanwhile, Tehran announced Wednesday evening another barrage of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases in the Gulf, striking Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Eilat as well as US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Israel’s military said early Thursday its air defences were operating to intercept the incoming fire.
As Israel prepared for the Passover holiday, which began at sunset Wednesday, air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly in the Tel Aviv area.
Emergency services said an Iranian missile attack Wednesday morning wounded 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl.
The Revolutionary Guards also confirmed hitting an oil tanker in the Gulf they said belonged to Israel; a British maritime security agency said the vessel was struck off Qatar, reporting damage but no casualties.
