double quotation markTonight, I\u2019m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion \u2026 In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield \u2013 victories like few people have ever seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Trump](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5432.jpg\")
Trump addresses the nation to give an update on the war against Iran. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/Pool\/Alex Brandon – Pool\/CNP\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
The president also once again called for countries that receive oil through the strait of Hormuz to show \u201ccourage\u201d and seize the key waterway, while saying Washington will not allow its Middle East allies to be harmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe countries of the world that … receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage,\u201d Trump said. \u201cJust take it, protect it, use it for yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also thanked \u201cour allies in the Middle East \u2013 Israel<\/a>, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain,\u201d saying: \u201cThey\u2019ve been great, and we will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.32 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Donald Trump used a primetime address to the nation on Wednesday evening to declare the month-long war in Iran a success \u201cnearing completion\u201d, despite a spiralling conflict that has caused economic turmoil across the globe, fractured transatlantic alliances and eroded the president\u2019s approval ratings.<\/p>\n In remarks from the White House, Trump argued that the US\u2019s \u201clittle journey\u201d to Iran<\/a> had accomplished nearly \u201call of America\u2019s military objectives\u201d, but offered little clarity on how he planned to wind down the conflict over the next \u201ctwo to three weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are on the cusp of ending Iran\u2019s sinister threat to America and the world,\u201d Trump said in the 19-minute speech, delivered from Cross Hall of the White House. \u201cWe have all the cards. They have none.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese – one of America\u2019s allies who is most consistently supportive of Donald Trump on the world stage – said on Thursday he believed the original objectives of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.<\/p>\n double quotation markNow those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, has offered up his response to Donald Trump\u2019s address, saying \u201cTrump sold voters on a \u2018pro-peace,\u2019 \u2018America First\u2019 vision for his administration.\u201d<\/p>\n double quotation markIt was all bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin said that Trump was \u201cdesperately trying to justify his deadly and costly war of choice.\u201d<\/p>\n double quotation markTrump offered no new information the the American people and once again failed to give the public a clear rationale for his war, while he forces them to foot the bill to the tune of billions of dollars and causes their gas prices to skyrocket.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As part of his plea for patience from US voters, the Donald Trump ticked through the timeline of American involvement in earlier conflicts.<\/p>\n double quotation markWorld War I lasted one year, seven months and five days \u2026 World War II lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days.\u201d<\/p>\n He added references to Korea, Vietnam and Iraq \u2014 noting Vietnam\u2019s nearly 20-year US commitment.<\/p>\n Action in Iran has spanned 32 days by comparison, Trump said, and has been \u201cso powerful, so brilliant\u201d that \u201cone of the most powerful countries\u201d is \u201creally no longer a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Key moments from Trump’s oval office address<\/p>\n Donald Trump\u2019s Wednesday evening address was an opportunity to use a wide audience to articulate clear objectives for the war, after weeks of changing goals and often contradictory messages about whether he\u2019s winding down or ready to escalate military operations.<\/p>\n He said America\u2019s \u201ccore strategic objectives are nearing completion,\u201d but he also spent much of his time repeating many of the same things he said in recent weeks.<\/p>\n He criticised previous US administrations for failing to tackle Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, saying previous presidents \u201cmade mistakes and I am correcting them.\u201d<\/p>\n double quotation markFor years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words if you\u2019re not willing to take action when the time comes.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier on Wednesday the president said he did not care about Iran\u2019s stock of highly enriched uranium (HEU) as it was deep underground and could be monitored by satellite. He reiterated on Wednesday evening saying Iran\u2019s various nuclear sites are under \u201cintense satellite surveillance and control\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIf we see them make a move, even a move for it, we will hit them with missiles very hard again.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Trump gestures after speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/EPA<\/p>\n Trump claimed the military action was launched to help America\u2019s allies in the region, and also pointedly thanked \u201cIsrael, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain,\u201d adding he would not let them get hurt.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re now totally independent of the Middle East, and yet we are there to help \u2026 We don\u2019t have to be there. We don\u2019t need their oil. We don\u2019t need anything they have \u2026 We\u2019re there to help our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n The president was particularly critical of Barack Obama\u2019s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, reiterating his longstanding derision of that framework, and commending his decision to pull out of it during his first term.<\/p>\n double quotation markHis Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump also didn\u2019t talk directly about Nato, at whose members he has fumed over refusal to help secure the strait of Hormuz. The war has sent oil prices soaring as Iran has effectively shut the strait.<\/p>\n During his address, Trump said Americans \u201cdon\u2019t need\u201d the strait and that the countries who do \u201cmust grab it and cherish it.\u201d The president also claimed that when the conflict is over, the strait would open up naturally.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Oil prices rise after Donald Trump addresses Americans about progress of Iran war<\/p>\n Mark Saunokonoko<\/p>\n Oil prices surged almost immediately after Donald Trump\u2019s address on the Iran war. His 20 minute speech did little to soothe market worries over the closure of the strait of Hormuz, with the US president calling on other nations to help reopen it.<\/p>\n Brent jumped more than 4% to $105.55, while West Texas Intermediate climbed 3% to hit $103.16. Both had been falling before Trump started his speech.<\/p>\n In early trading on Asian markets, Japan\u2019s Nikkei was down 0.79% and South Korea\u2019s Kospi reacted by dropping by 1.8%. Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng index was trading 0.5% lower and China\u2019s CSI 300 fell 0.3% just after opening. Australia\u2019s S&P\/ASX 200 was 0.5% down.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, US stock futures dipped by 0.67% and European futures were 0.1% lower.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.56 EDT<\/p>\n Trump once again sets out a timeline of ‘two to three weeks’, as he defends his decision to go to war<\/p>\n Donald Trump used his first address to the nation since the start of the war in Iran to justify the costs that it is imposing on America and the world, while continuing to claim that he is close to winding up the conflict.<\/p>\n Trump said on Wednesday evening that Iran<\/a> had been decimated and that the hard part of the war was done. He however added that the US would hit Iran \u201cextremely hard\u201d for the next two to three weeks.<\/p>\n double quotation markTonight, I\u2019m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion \u2026 In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield \u2013 victories like few people have ever seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump addresses the nation to give an update on the war against Iran. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/Pool\/Alex Brandon – Pool\/CNP\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n The president also once again called for countries that receive oil through the strait of Hormuz to show \u201ccourage\u201d and seize the key waterway, while saying Washington will not allow its Middle East allies to be harmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe countries of the world that … receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage,\u201d Trump said. \u201cJust take it, protect it, use it for yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n He also thanked \u201cour allies in the Middle East \u2013 Israel<\/a>, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain,\u201d saying: \u201cThey\u2019ve been great, and we will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.32 EDT<\/p>\n Trump says US close to \u2018finishing the job\u2019 in Iran<\/p>\n Trump has said that America\u2019s core strategic objectives are nearing completion and he is close to \u201cfinishing the job\u201d in Iran. He has once again set out a timeline of \u201ctwo to three weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n He has followed this statement by once again criticising US allies for failing to take part in the operation against Iran \u2013 and told them that they must take responsibility for reopening the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/AP<\/p>\n Trump has said over the last few days that the US does not rely on the strait for its oil, so therefore will not take responsibility for reopening the vital waterway.<\/p>\n On Tuesday he told reporters that the responsibility for keeping the strait of Hormuz open will rest with countries that rely on it. \u201cThat\u2019s not for us \u2026 That\u2019ll be for whoever\u2019s using the strait.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.20 EDT<\/p>\n Trump has claimed that Iran was \u201cright at the doorstep\u201d of gaining a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n Earlier on Wednesday the president said he did not care about Iran\u2019s stock of highly enriched uranium (HEU), arguing it was deep underground and could be monitored by satellite.<\/p>\n Experts said that if the US-Israeli offensive against Iran concluded with the Tehran government still in control of its 440kg HEU stockpile, it would be significantly closer to the capability of making nuclear warheads than if the US had pursued a potential negotiated settlement that was on the table at the time the US and Israel<\/a> launched the war on 28 February.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump makes the case for the Iran war<\/p>\n The president has begun to make the case for why the war in Iran is necessary.<\/p>\n double quotation markFrom the very beginning my campaign for president in 2015, I said I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. This regime has been chanting death to America, death to Israel.<\/p>\n Trump is going through a timeline of his approach to Iran over his first and second term. He is spending some time talking about his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal that the Obama administration agreed with Tehran to limit Iran\u2019s enrichment of uranium.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.11 EDT<\/p>\n Trump has begun by praising the victories that the US has achieved in Iran.<\/p>\n double quotation markIran\u2019s navy is gone. Their Air Force is in ruins \u2026 Very few are left.\u201d<\/p>\n He goes on to praise the operation to remove Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela in January.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe are working along Venezuela .. true partners and we are getting along incredibly well.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump begins address to the nation<\/p>\n Donald Trump is speaking now, we\u2019ll bring you updates as they come in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As Donald Trump prepares to address the nation, many are asking why he is making this speech now, more than one month into the conflict. One reason might be the amount of recent polling which shows support for the Iran war, and for his administration, falling.<\/p>\n A new <\/a>CNN<\/a> <\/a>poll<\/a> released in the last few hours shows that just one-third of Americans believe Trump has a \u201cclear plan to handle the situation in Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n The polling also shows that just 34% of Americans approve at least somewhat of the Trump\u2019s decision to launch the war, down 7 points from another CNN poll conducted soon after the start of operations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More than 5,000 people have been killed across the Middle East since the war in Iran began, according to death tolls from various groups compiled by the Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n The casualty numbers are concentrated in Iran and Lebanon, but also include countries throughout the gulf, Israel, Syria, Iraq and the West Bank.<\/p>\n In Iran, US-based rights group HRANA said 3,519 people have been killed since the war erupted. It said 1,598 of those were civilians, including at least 244 children. The group says its data comes from field reports, local contacts, medical and emergency sources, civil society networks, open-source materials and official statements.<\/p>\n A heavily damaged building following an Israeli strike in Hadath, Lebanon. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir\/Reuters<\/p>\n Lebanese authorities say 1,318 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since 2 March, including at least 124 children. More than 400 fighters from Hezbollah have been killed since the Lebanese armed group launched attacks in a new war with Israel, two sources familiar with the group\u2019s count told Reuters. It is unclear if the death toll reported by the authorities includes the fighters.<\/p>\n Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were also killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, one from a roadside explosion, the other involving a projectile.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As Donald Trump prepares to address the American people, US central command has released an update on the ongoing conflict in Iran.<\/p>\n Operation Epic Fury has seen more than 13,000 combat flights, which have struck over 12,000 targets and damaged or destroyed more than 150 Iranian vessels, according to Centcom.<\/p>\n Despite these raw statistics, Trump is struggling to reconcile weeks of changing goals and often contradictory messages about whether he\u2019s winding down or ready to escalate military operations \u2014 as Iran keeps up its attacks on Israel and Gulf countries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The New York Times<\/a> has reported<\/a> that US intelligence agencies believe Iran is not currently willing to engage in negotiations to end the war, and that despite the month-long bombing campaign by the US and Israel, the government in Tehran believes it remains in a strong position.<\/p>\n According to officials speaking to the NYT, Iran doesn\u2019t trust the US or believe Donald Trump is serious about negotiations.<\/p>\n The current conflict was launched while Iran was locked in negotiations with US officials over its nuclear programme. Last year, Israel<\/a> launched attacks on Iranian nuclear targets, again while the US was engaged in discussions with Tehran.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Iran<\/a> rejected Donald Trump\u2019s claim that its leadership asked for a ceasefire, calling the US president\u2019s statement \u201cfalse\u201d and \u201cbaseless\u201d.<\/p>\n Tehran has repeatedly said there are no ongoing negotiations to end the war. The country\u2019s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has previously said Iran had the \u201cnecessary will\u201d for a ceasefire, but only if its foes guaranteed hostilities would not resume.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump preparing to make first national address since launching Iran war a month ago<\/p>\n Donald Trump is minutes away from delivering his first formal address from the White House since launching the war in the Middle East a month ago.<\/p>\n It comes at a pivotal moment for the US president, as he faces accusations that he has lost control of the conflict and will not be able to achieve the key aims of the war.<\/p>\n Trump has continued to claim that the US has already won the war, and has refused to take responsibility for the economic fallout that has spread across the world.<\/p>\n In his speech, the president will give an operational update on the progress of Operation Epic Fury, while highlighting the military\u2019s \u201csuccess in achieving all of its stated goals\u201d, a US official has said.<\/p>\n Donald Trump on the steps of the White House on Wednesday. Photograph: Shawn Thew\/UPI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n He is expected to reiterate the 2-3 week timetable for concluding the operation, but crucially is not expected to announced an end to the war.<\/p>\n Recent polling shows Trump\u2019s overall approval rating slipping below 40%, with disapproval climbing above the mid-50s as voters sour on both the war and its economic fallout, while support for the Iran<\/a> campaign itself polls even lower.<\/p>\n The economic picture has compounded the problem. US petrol prices have surged above $4 a gallon for the first time in years, while consumer confidence has weakened, dragging down Trump\u2019s already fragile standing on the economy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.47 EDT<\/p>\n Opening summary<\/p>\n Welcome to our continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East, as Donald Trump prepares to address America for the first time since the US-Israel war on Iran was launched.<\/p>\n The president will deliver the prime-time speech at 9pm ET from the White House.<\/p>\n The address comes as his administration faces plunging approval ratings, economic jitters and a spiralling diplomatic fallout. Trump is expected to try and reassure the nation that US goals are being met and that he has a plan for completing the war, which has roiled the US economy.<\/p>\n Earlier Wednesday, Trump claimed a major breakthrough, saying Iran\u2019s president was seeking a ceasefire. This was swiftly denied by Iran\u2019s foreign ministry, which also accused Washington of making \u201cmaximalist and irrational\u201d demands.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what else has been happening today:<\/p>\n Iran has rejected Donald Trump\u2019s claim that its leadership asked for a ceasefire, calling the US president\u2019s statement \u201cfalse\u201d and \u201cbaseless\u201d. Trump made the claim in a post on Truth Social, which said: \u201cIran\u2019s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!\u201d<\/p>\n Trump also said he is \u201cabsolutely\u201d considering withdrawing the US from Nato, warning that the matter was \u201cbeyond reconsideration\u201d after the refusal of US allies to join the US-Israeli war against Iran<\/a>. The president\u2019s threats, his most determined to date, have left the alliance facing its worst crisis in its 77-year history, a former US ambassador has said. Here\u2019s our story<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in an open letter to the American people, Iran\u2019s president Masoud Pezeshkian said relations between Washington and Tehran were \u201cmisunderstood\u201d and that Iran was not an aggressor. The Iranian \u201charbor no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighbouring countries,\u201d he said<\/a>, adding that portrayals of Iran as a security threat were inaccurate<\/a>, and Tehran was acting in self-defence \u2013 not aggression.<\/p>\n In Tehran, Kamal Kharazi, a top foreign policy official and former Iranian foreign minister, has been severely injured in an airstrike on his home in the Iranian capital. His wife was reportedly killed in the attack. Kharazi, considered a moderate politician and veteran policy expert, also served as an adviser to the assassinated former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reports suggest<\/a> his targeting is being viewed as an attempt to derail diplomacy.<\/p>\n![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Lauren_Gambino.png\")
Lauren Gambino<\/p>\n