WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump touted what he views as success in the war with Iran on Wednesday night, telling Americans in a prime-time address that the conflict, now entering its second month, will end “shortly” without offering a definite timeline.
Trump’s speech presented the most compelling public argument yet for the conflict, asserting its necessity for the security of the free world. He also outlined a framework that he claimed would serve as a measure of American success.
“Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track and the country has been eviscerated and essentially is really no longer a threat,” Trump said. “This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren’s future. The whole world is watching.”
Still, he said the war would continue until the military objectives were “fully achieved.”
“Shortly, we’re going to hit them extremely hard,” he said. “Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.”
He also said that if Iran does not make a deal with the U.S., “we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously.”
Trump aimed to explain the rationale behind the U.S. involvement in the war, accusing Iran’s regime of destabilizing the global order for decades. Additionally, Trump asserted that Iran was constructing its nuclear program at a new location, making it evident that it had no intention of abandoning their pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“Everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, but in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes,” he said, later adding: “We are on the cusp of ending Iran’s sinister threat to America and the world.”
During the address, Trump made several lies and misleading claims, among them that Iran was “close” to having a missile that could strike the U.S., though an intelligence report said Iran would not have that capability until 2035.
Oil and gas prices have surged and stocks have tumbled since the start of the war, ratcheting up economic pressure at home that the White House says will ease once the operation is complete.
He also said the U.S. has “so much gas,” thanks to his administration’s promise to increase U.S. oil production and its cooperation with Venezuela.
