As the conflict with Iran entered its sixth week, President Trump told Americans the U.S. was “on the cusp of ending Iran’s sinister threat to America and the world,” and that military objectives were expected to be completed “shortly.” He warned of intensified strikes in 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 attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure if diplomacy fails.
Trump said Iran’s new leaders were “less radical and much more reasonable” and asserted the United States held “all the cards.” He urged nations that depend on the Strait of Hormuz to secure the waterway 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 consider diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation and protect trapped ships and seafarers, while emphasizing Britain would not be drawn into the war.
Iran continued launching ballistic missiles and armed drones across the Gulf region. 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 sites associated with the United States, as well as Iraqi institutions and civilian locations.
Regional incidents reported this week included 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 Baghdad, American journalist Shelley Kittleson was reportedly kidnapped and is believed to be held by Kataib Hezbollah, which has contacted Iraqi authorities with demands tied to the release of its detained members.
U.S. Central Command said it had struck more than 12,300 targets in a campaign to “dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus,” prioritizing sites it said posed “imminent threats.” Central Command 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 rejected what he called a destructive cycle of “war, negotiations and ceasefire,” saying Iran was defending itself against an illegal war. Hours before President Trump’s address, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a letter to the American people questioning the rationale for the war, defending Iran’s strikes as “measured” self-defense and suggesting that continued confrontation is costly and futile.
Meanwhile, Israel expanded operations in Lebanon, launching airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs where Hezbollah maintains offices. Lebanon’s government reported at least 50 people killed across the country on Wednesday. In southern Lebanon, Israeli tanks advanced into areas vacated by the Lebanese Army; Israeli officials said they sought to create a security zone and destroy villages used by Hezbollah, likening the approach to a “Gaza model.” Many residents fled after Israeli evacuation orders for parts of the border region.
President 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 fighting and strikes have disrupted oil supplies and raised prices for oil, gas and fertilizer, increasing global economic pressure.
As diplomatic and military maneuvers continue, international leaders are convening and tensions remain high across the Gulf and the Levant. Civilians in multiple countries continue to bear the immediate humanitarian toll of the escalating conflict.