As the war against Iran enters its sixth week, President Trump told Americans Wednesday the U.S. is “on the cusp of ending Iran’s sinister threat to America and the world,” saying military objectives were on track to be completed “shortly.” He warned of intensified strikes over the next two to three weeks, saying, “We are going to hit them extremely hard … We’ll bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong,” and threatened U.S. attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure if talks fail.
Trump described Iran’s new leaders as “less radical and much more reasonable” and said the U.S. held “all the cards.” He also urged nations that rely on the Strait of Hormuz to protect the shipping lane themselves, offering U.S. oil as an alternative and suggesting affected countries should “grab it and cherish it.” The United Kingdom hosted a virtual meeting of 35 countries to discuss reopening the strait; the U.S. was not scheduled to attend. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said participants would assess diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation and protect trapped ships and seafarers, while stressing Britain would not be drawn into the war.
Iran continued striking Gulf countries with ballistic missiles and drones on Thursday. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert warning of plots by Iran-backed militias to attack central Baghdad within 24 to 48 hours and urged U.S. citizens to leave Iraq. The embassy warned militias may target U.S. citizens, businesses, universities, diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports and other locations associated with the United States, as well as Iraqi institutions and civilian sites.
Regional incidents reported this week include four drones and a ballistic missile intercepted and destroyed over eastern Saudi Arabia; falling debris and air-raid sirens in Bahrain; a fire at fuel depots near Kuwait International Airport after an alleged Iranian drone strike; and suspected drone strikes on an oil warehouse near Erbil in Iraq. In Iraq, American journalist Shelley Kittleson was reportedly kidnapped in Baghdad and is believed to be held by Kataib Hezbollah, which has contacted Iraqi authorities with demands tied to the release of its detained members.
The U.S. Central Command said late Wednesday it had struck more than 12,300 targets in its campaign to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.” Central Command said it prioritized targets that posed “imminent threats” and listed destroyed or damaged assets including command centers, Revolutionary Guard posts, air defenses, ballistic missile sites, naval vessels and submarines, anti-ship missile sites, drone manufacturing and weapons production facilities. The military also reported destroying or damaging over 155 vessels since the conflict began.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai responded to Trump’s address by rejecting the cycle of “war, negotiations and ceasefire,” calling it disastrous for Iran and the region and saying Iran was defending itself against an illegal war. Hours before Trump spoke, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a letter addressed to the American people questioning the rationale for the war and asking which American interests it served. He defended Iran’s strikes as “measured” self-defense and suggested that continuing confrontation is costly and futile, hinting at a preference for engagement.
Meanwhile, Israel expanded operations in Lebanon, launching airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs where Hezbollah has offices. Lebanon’s government reported at least 50 people killed across the country on Wednesday. In southern Lebanon, Israeli tanks moved into areas from which the Lebanese Army withdrew; Israeli officials said they seek to create a security zone and destroy villages used by Hezbollah, calling the approach similar to a “Gaza model.” Many residents have fled following Israeli orders to evacuate parts of the border region.
Trump pledged continued support to U.S. Middle Eastern allies, saying, “They’ve been great, and we will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form.” The conflict has disrupted oil supplies and pushed up prices for oil, gas and fertilizer, heightening global economic concerns. As diplomatic and military maneuvers continue, international leaders convene and tensions persist across the Gulf and Levant, with civilian populations in multiple countries bearing the immediate humanitarian toll.