Trump declares Iran war 'nearing completion'
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- Trump announced in a prime‑time address that the U.S. war against Iran is “nearing completion” and that most of the administration’s military objectives have been achieved.
- U.S. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper reported that 92 % of Iran’s large naval ships have been destroyed in the conflict.
- U.S. officials have confirmed that only about one‑third of Iran’s missile capabilities have been eliminated, while Iranian missiles continue to strike regional targets, including a recent hit on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia that injured troops.
- Trump gave contradictory statements about Iran’s nuclear program, first claiming the goal of preventing a nuclear weapon has been attained, then later suggesting a future president may have to “knock the hell out of them again” if Iran develops one.
- Trump said the United States will complete all remaining military objectives “very shortly,” targeting an intensified campaign over the next two to three weeks.
- U.S. gasoline prices have risen to over $4 per gallon as the war has curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising oil and fertilizer costs.
- Trump hinted at pulling the United States out of NATO because allies did not join the war, even as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit the White House.
Why it matters: The claim aims to bolster domestic support as public disapproval of the war and rising gasoline costs erode the president’s approval, while the NATO pull‑out discussion highlights tension with allies as Mark Rutte prepares a White House visit and underscores the diplomatic challenge of maintaining the alliance amid the conflict.
