Address from the White House
The US warning to Iran dominated an address to the nation by Donald Trump from the White House, where he outlined military developments in the conflict with Iran over the past month. He stated that the operation is expected to conclude within two to three weeks.
He warned that if no agreement is reached with Tehran, the United States would strike Iran “extremely hard” within that same timeframe, adding that the country could be pushed “back to the stone age.”
Claims of battlefield success
Trump said US forces had achieved “rapid, decisive and overwhelming victories,” claiming that no adversary in modern warfare had suffered such large-scale losses in such a short period.
He added that key strategic objectives are nearing completion, citing significant weakening of Iran’s missile systems, drones and naval capabilities.
However, he also claimed Iran had been close to acquiring a nuclear weapon, despite previous assessments by the US intelligence community indicating there was no active military nuclear programme.
Oil prices and Strait of Hormuz
The US-Iran warning also extended to economic issues, with Trump attributing rising gasoline prices in the United States to Tehran’s actions. He described the increases as the result of “irrational terrorist attacks” on commercial oil tankers and neighbouring countries.
Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of global oil supply passes, he called on countries dependent on the region’s oil to take greater responsibility for securing navigation. He left open the possibility of US support in those efforts.
Pressure on allies and NATO tensions
Trump urged affected countries to purchase oil from the United States and to show what he described as “delayed courage” in protecting the shipping routes themselves.
At the same time, tensions with NATO appeared to escalate. The US President said he was “absolutely” considering the possibility of withdrawing from the alliance, citing a lack of European response to American calls for assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
It was also announced that Mark Rutte is set to visit the White House next week for talks with Trump, amid the growing strain in transatlantic relations.
Threat of further escalation
Reiterating the US-Iran warning, Trump said that in the absence of a deal, the US military could target “every power generation facility” in Iran, potentially simultaneously. He did not rule out strikes on the country’s oil industry, describing it as the economic lifeline of the Iranian regime.
He concluded that Iran had been “essentially decimated,” adding that “the hard part is over, so now it should be easy.”
Also read: Trump tells allies to “just take” oil from Hormuz
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