President Donald Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday evening, providing the first White House update on Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on February 28. Speaking for about 19 minutes, Trump declared that the core strategic objectives are "nearing completion" after four weeks of operations.

Trump highlighted devastating U.S. military successes, stating Iran's navy is "gone," its air force "in ruins," most regime leaders dead, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command decimated, and missile and drone launch capabilities "dramatically curtailed." He said weapons factories and rocket launchers are being destroyed, marking losses "never in the history of warfare" seen in such a short time. The president credited the U.S. armed forces with striking over 12,300 targets and conducting 13,000 combat flights, destroying 155 Iranian vessels and crippling the defense industrial base.

He outlined the campaign's goals: dismantling Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and production, annihilating its navy, preventing nuclear weapons development, and cutting support for terrorist proxies. Trump noted prior actions, including killing General Qassem Soleimani and withdrawing from the Obama-era nuclear deal, as key to countering Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The president projected another two to three weeks of intense operations, warning the U.S. would hit Iran "extremely hard," potentially targeting power plants and sending the regime "back to the Stone Ages" if no deal is reached. He addressed rising gasoline prices, up over 30% to $4.06 per gallon nationally, blaming Iranian attacks on oil tankers and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil transits. Oil prices surged post-speech, with Brent crude reaching $104.44 per barrel.

Trump thanked Middle East allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, and saluted 13 U.S. service members killed in action. He spoke directly to Iranians, saying "the hour of your freedom is at hand," and claimed new leaders are "less radical and much more reasonable."

Iranian officials denied Trump's assertion that they requested a ceasefire, calling it "false and baseless." Trump also congratulated NASA on the Artemis II launch during the address.