Iran is “essentially… no longer a threat,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (1 April), signalling what he described as the final phase of the war with Iran. In a televised address from the White House, Trump stated the U.S.-led campaign "Operation Epic Fury" was nearing completion.
“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” Trump stated, while also suggesting diplomatic discussions were ongoing.
In his address, the U.S. President portrayed the campaign as an overwhelming success, claiming Iran’s navy had been “completely destroyed”, its air force left “in ruins”, and its missile and drone capabilities significantly degraded.
He also said leadership structures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had been largely dismantled.
“Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating losses in a matter of weeks,” President Trump said.
The U.S. president framed the operation as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, reiterating longstanding accusations against Tehran over its regional activities and support for proxy groups.
He argued that allowing Iran to develop nuclear capabilities would pose an “intolerable threat” to global security.
President Trump indicated that Washington was not explicitly pursuing regime change, although he acknowledged that Iran’s leadership had effectively been transformed following the deaths of senior figures.
He warned, however, that further strikes remained on the table if negotiations failed, including potential attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and power grid, targets he said had so far been deliberately avoided.
The president also sought to reassure Americans over rising fuel prices, blaming recent increases on Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and regional instability. He insisted the U.S. economy remained strong enough to withstand short-term disruptions.
Trump added that the United States was largely insulated from energy shocks due to domestic production, urging other countries dependent on oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz to take greater responsibility for securing the vital route.
Trump stressed that military operations would continue until all objectives were achieved.
“We are on the cusp of ending Iran’s threat to America and the world,” he said.
The remarks come as global oil and stock markets reacted negatively to the speech, reflecting continued uncertainty over the trajectory of the conflict and its economic fallout.
The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on 28 February, targeting key military and nuclear infrastructure.
Early strikes reportedly included one that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran for New York on Tuesday heading a delegation to participate in the 81st United Nations General Assembly while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived there earlier at the head of a diplomatic team.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
Iran has ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave the country, after Stockholm expelled an Iranian embassy staffer, as diplomatic tensions between Tehran and several European countries deepen.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
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