President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, declaring that the United States is “nearing completion” of its core strategic objectives in Iran after just one month of Operation Epic Fury.
He praised U.S. military efforts as “extraordinary” and warned that more aggressive action is coming in the weeks ahead.
Here are the five moments you need to know:
Operation Epic Fury “nearing completion”
Trump said the U.S. has largely neutralized Iran as a military threat after 32 days of sustained operations.
According to the president, U.S. forces have:
- Destroyed Iran’s navy
- Severely weakened its air force and missile programs
- Targeted its defense industrial base
“Taken together, these actions will cripple Iran’s military… and deny them the ability to build a nuclear bomb,” Trump said.
He added that remaining operations will intensify:
“We’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”
Trump also claimed Iran’s original leadership has been eliminated, with a “less radical” group now in place.
Gas price spike is “short term”
With U.S. gas prices rising above $4 per gallon, Trump acknowledged concerns but blamed Iranian attacks on oil shipping.
He emphasized the increase is temporary:
- Linked to instability in key oil routes
- Expected to reverse once the conflict ends
“When this conflict is over, the strait will open up… and gas prices will rapidly come back down,” he said.
Trump also pointed to U.S. energy dominance, arguing America is now the world’s top oil and gas producer.
Tribute to troops and recent military actions
Trump opened by praising U.S. forces for their role in both:
- Operation Epic Fury (Iran)
- A prior rapid operation in Venezuela
He honored the 13 U.S. service members killed during the Iran campaign, describing visits with their families at Dover Air Force Base.
“We must honor them by completing the mission.”
He said families of the fallen urged him to “finish the job,” reinforcing his commitment to see the operation through.
Urging Americans to “keep this in perspective”
Trump compared the current conflict to past wars, noting:
- World War I: 1 year, 7 months
- World War II: 3 years, 8 months
- Vietnam: nearly 20 years
By contrast, the Iran operation has lasted just 32 days.
“We are in this operation… and the country has been eviscerated,” he said, arguing the speed and effectiveness are unprecedented.
He framed the mission as a long-term investment:
“This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren’s future.”
Renewed criticism of Obama’s Iran deal
Trump sharply criticized the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, calling it a “disaster” and one of his most important decisions to terminate.
He argued the deal:
- Enabled Iran financially
- Failed to stop nuclear ambitions
- Would have led to a nuclear-armed Iran
“There would have been no Middle East and no Israel… had I not terminated that deal,” Trump said.
He reiterated that diplomacy was attempted but ultimately failed, leading to military action.
