Trump says Iran ‘no longer a threat,’ US will keep hitting country ‘very hard’ in next phase
President Donald Trump told Americans in a primetime address Wednesday that Iran is no longer “the bully of the Middle East.” The president outlined the next phase of the war, saying U.S. forces will strike Iran “very hard” over the next two to three weeks and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages.”
France’s Macron says reopening Strait of Hormuz by force is ‘unrealistic’
France is pushing back on calls for military action in the Strait of Hormuz, with President Emmanuel Macron calling such an operation to reopen the vital waterway “unrealistic” and urging negotiations instead.
“There are people who advocate the idea of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by force, through a military operation, a position that has at times been expressed by the United States,” Macron told reporters Thursday during a visit to South Korea. “That has never been the option we have chosen, and we consider it unrealistic.”
Macron said a military operation “would take an infinite amount of time and would expose anyone passing through the strait to coastal threats from (Iran’s) Revolutionary Guard, who has capabilities, ballistic missiles and many other risks.”
The reopening of the Strait “can only be done in coordination with Iran,” through negotiations that would follow a potential ceasefire, Macron said.
Macron’s comments come after President Donald Trump voiced criticisms about NATO over the alliance’s refusal to join a potential effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump unleashes on Obama's 'disaster' Iran nuclear deal, says he was 'honored' to rip it apart
President Donald Trump revealed during Wednesday night's Iran address that one of his top achievements against Iran, which he described as spanning across both his terms, was shredding former President Barack Obama's 2015 nuclear deal.
Trump described the efforts in the Middle East as making "tremendous progress" and called Operation Epic Fury "necessary for the safety of America and the security of the free world."
Meanwhile, he slammed Iran as "fanatical," "murderous," and "thuggish," arguing that letting them have a nuclear weapon "would be an intolerable threat." While slamming Obama's 2015 deal, the president cited the $400 million cash payment the former president's administration flew to Iran in an effort to "buy their respect and loyalty."
"The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will never let that happen, and neither should any of our past presidents," Trump said, leading into his comments about Obama's "terrible" deal with Iran.
"But it didn't work," Trump continued. "They laughed at our president and went on with their mission to have a nuclear bomb. His Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran, and they would have had them years ago, and they would have used them – would have been a different world. There would have been no Middle East and no Israel right now, in my opinion … Had I not terminated that terrible deal – I was so honored to do it. I was so proud to do it. It was so bad right from the beginning."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel.
Key takeaways from Trump’s Iran address
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying the United States’ "core strategic objectives" in Iran are "nearing completion" just a month after Operation Epic Fury began and warned that the U.S. will hit Tehran "extremely hard" over the next several weeks.
Trump says Operation Epic Fury is ‘nearing completion’
"Tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," the president said, touting the United States military and their "extraordinary" efforts.
"We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders," Trump said.
"That means eliminating Iran’s navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their air force and their missile program at levels never seen before, and annihilating their defense industrial base," the president said Wednesday night.
Trump says rising gas prices in the US are ‘short term’
Since Operation Epic Fury began, gas prices in the United States have increased. The president acknowledged that development, and expressed confidence that those increases are "short term."
"Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home," the president said. "The short-term increase has been 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 urges Americans to keep the Iran conflict ‘in perspective’
"It’s very important that we keep this conflict in perspective," the president said. "American involvement in World War One lasted one year, seven months and five days."
"World War Two lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days," he continued. "The Korean War lasted for three years, one month and two days. The Vietnam War lasted for 19 years, five months and 29 days."
"Iraq went on for eight years, eight months and 28 days," the president said.
"We are in this military operation, so powerful, so brilliant against one of the most powerful countries for 32 days," he said. "And the country has been eviscerated and, essentially, is really no longer a threat."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman.
Graham calls Trump’s Iran address a ‘defining moment,’ says objectives nearing completion
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., praised President Donald Trump’s address Wednesday night regarding the conflict in Iran, calling it a “defining moment” in the military campaign.
“So what did we learn tonight? In two or three weeks, we’ll have completed the objective of destroying their ballistic missile program. They’re no longer to be able to threat America or Europe, make more missiles,” Graham said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
“We’ve learned tonight that their nuclear ambitions to build a nuclear bomb have been completely decimated, and their ability to finance terrorism is gone,” he added.
Graham said Trump is pressing Iran to reach a deal or face further action.“But if you don’t do a deal, I’m gonna decimate your ability to come back economically,” he continued.
“President Trump outlined targets that would destroy the ability of this regime to survive over time. If you don’t take this deal, we’re gonna blow up all the things that you need to come back.”
“This was a defining moment in this campaign,” Graham asserted.“We’re inside the 10-yard line, and he’s telling Iran how this movie ends. It’s up to you,” he said.
“We could do it through diplomacy, and if you reject diplomacy, this will end with a decimation of your ability to ever come back economically.”
Trump declares Iran ‘no longer a threat’ in update on next phase of war
President Donald Trump told Americans in a primetime address Wednesday night that Iran has been “eviscerated and is essentially no longer a threat” after a 32-day military campaign.
Trump touted the success of U.S. Operation Epic Fury, describing it as “so powerful” and “so brilliant.” He also outlined the next phase of the war.
“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” he said, adding that "discussions" are ongoing.
Trump said regime change was not the goal but has effectively occurred because the country’s original leaders are dead.
He described the new leadership as “less radical and more reasonable,” but warned that if no deal is reached, the U.S. could strike key targets, including electric generating plants.
“We have not hit their oil… because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding,” Trump said.
Trump also said nuclear sites struck by B-2 bombers were “obliterated” and are under close satellite surveillance.
“If we see them make a move, we’ll hit them with missiles very hard,” he said.
Reporting by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.
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