President Trump delivered a prime-time address on Wednesday predicting the imminent completion of the U.S. military mission in Iran, stating it would wrap up “very shortly.” He asserted that U.S. forces have secured “overwhelming victories” but refrained from providing a specific timeline for the conflict’s resolution.

Operation Epic Fury: A Month-Long Conflict

The president’s address came as the war surpassed the one-month mark. Previously, his administration had indicated a timeframe of four to six weeks. Mr. Trump now anticipates the war will last another two to three weeks, contingent on Iran reaching an agreement – a timeframe he reiterated in his Wednesday speech.

Upcoming Military Actions

“I’ve made clear from the beginning of Operation Epic Fury that we will continue until our objectives are fully achieved,” the president stated. He added, “Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly. We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”

Claims of Success and Regime Change

Mr. Trump emphasized the success of the operation, claiming Iran has been “eviscerated” in the past 33 days. He stated that while regime change wasn’t the initial goal, it has effectively occurred due to the deaths of key Iranian leaders, replaced by a “less radical and much more reasonable” group.

However, he warned that if “no deal is made,” the U.S. is prepared to target Iran’s critical infrastructure, including electric generating plants and oil industry targets.

Economic Impact and Global Security

The president addressed concerns about rising U.S. gas prices, attributing them to Iranian attacks on commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries. He urged countries reliant on the Strait of Hormuz, currently disrupted by Iran, to “take care of that passage” and “grab it and cherish it.” He also suggested these nations purchase oil from the U.S., stating, “We have plenty.”

Military Presence and Future Options

According to sources, hundreds of U.S. Special Operations Forces, along with thousands of Marines and Army paratroopers, are currently stationed in the Middle East. This deployment provides Mr. Trump with additional military options, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, or seizing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

Nuclear Concerns and Intelligence Assessments

Despite insisting on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Mr. Trump stated he is unconcerned with Iran’s highly enriched uranium stored underground. The U.S. intelligence community assessed last year that Iran did not have an active nuclear weapons program and was months away from producing a weapon if it chose to do so.

Recognition of Sacrifices

The president honored the 13 American servicemembers who have died in the conflict, stating, “We salute them and now we must honor them by completing the mission for which they gave their lives.” He reiterated his belief that intervention in Iran was necessary to prevent the regime from developing nuclear weapons and engaging in “campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest and mass murder.”