Iran war nearly over: Trump

The US President stressed that countries dependent on Middle East oil should take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz

Washington: As the US-Israel and Iran war entered its fifth week, in a televised national address, President Donald Trump said the US is close to achieving its military objectives in Iran, citing the destruction of key Iranian forces and infrastructure.

He promised intensified strikes over the next two to three weeks. Trump compared the ongoing US military campaign against Iran with past American wars, arguing that the current operation had achieved results in weeks that earlier conflicts took years to deliver.

In his address to the nation, the President said the operation against Iran had lasted just over a month but had already neutralized what he described as a major threat. “We are in this military operation… for 32 days, and the country has been eviscerated and essentially is really no longer a threat,” he said.

He contrasted this with the duration of previous US wars to underline the speed and intensity of the campaign. “American involvement in World War I lasted one year, seven months, and five days. World War II lasted for three years, eight months, and 25 days,” Trump said.

He added: “The Korean War lasted for three years, one month and two days. The Vietnam War lasted for 19 years, five months and 29 days. Trump also cited more recent conflicts. “Iraq went on for eight years, eight months and 28 days,” he said, contrasting them with the current timeline.

Framing the Iran operation as unusually swift, he said the US military had delivered results at a pace rarely seen in modern warfare. “Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating, large-scale losses in a matter of weeks,” Trump said.

“I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, calling the regime a long-term threat to US and global security.
 

Buy from US or build courage

Trump also said countries dependent on Middle East oil should take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz, as he blamed Iran for disruptions and rising fuel prices linked to the conflict.

Trump said recent increases in gasoline prices were “entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict.”

Trump made clear that the United States would not bear the burden of securing maritime routes alone. Referring to countries reliant on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “they must take care of that passage… they must grab it and cherish it.”

Trump offered a blunt prescription. “Number one, buy oil from the United States of America… and number two, build up some delayed courage… go to the Strait and just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves.”

In the latter part of his remarks, Trump underscored the US energy strength as a buffer against global shocks. “America has plenty of gas. We have so much gas,” he said, citing domestic production.