Trump Threatens To Bomb Iran Back To The Stone Ages

President Donald Trump delivered a prime-time address late Wednesday, declaring that U.S. military objectives in Iran are nearing completion after one month of Operation Epic Fury. He vowed to "bring Iran back to the Stone Ages" with intense strikes over the next two to three weeks, asserting that country’s navy is “gone,” its air force “in ruins,” and its leadership decimated.

Trump conditioned any ceasefire on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the conflict began, disrupting global oil supplies. He urged oil-dependent nations to “build up some delayed courage” and take control of the strait themselves, while suggesting they buy U.S. oil instead. He claimed the U.S. does not rely on the waterway, stating, “We haven’t needed the Hormuz Strait, and we don’t need it.”

U.S. goals include destroying Iran’s missile and nuclear programs, eliminating its navy, and preventing nuclear weapon development—objectives Trump said are nearly achieved. He claimed Iran’s new leadership had sought a ceasefire, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied any such request.

Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel after the speech, with markets reacting to the lack of a clear exit strategy despite Trump’s claims of imminent victory.

Trump also threatened to target Iran’s electric grid and oil infrastructure if no deal is reached, while asserting that regime change has already occurred due to the death of top Iranian leaders.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of “consequences beyond Iran’s borders,” and state media rejected negotiations unless the U.S. fully withdraws from the region and pays compensation. Iran insists it will not reopen to the U.S., saying, “The strait will reopen, but not for you.”

Meanwhile, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing senior commander Haj Youssef Ismail Hashem, with over 1,300 Lebanese killed and more than 3,900 wounded.

The U.K. is hosting a 35-nation virtual meeting to discuss reopening the strait; as Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO over allies’ inaction.