As the conflict with Iran approaches its sixth week, President Trump delivered a national address saying the United States is close to eliminating what he called Iran’s threat to America and the world. In his first formal remarks since U.S. and Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28, he said U.S. forces were on track to fulfill their military objectives soon, but he did not provide a timeline for ending the campaign.
Trump warned of an escalation beyond earlier estimates, saying U.S. forces would intensify attacks over the coming weeks and that, if negotiations fail, American strikes would target Iran’s energy infrastructure and oil industry. He framed U.S. strategy as holding all the cards and signaled a hardening of posture toward Tehran.
Despite the rhetoric, Iran continued to launch ballistic missiles and drones at Gulf states. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert warning of plots by Iran-aligned militias to attack central Baghdad within 24 to 48 hours and urged U.S. citizens to depart Iraq immediately. The notice said militias might target U.S. citizens, businesses, diplomatic sites, energy infrastructure, hotels, airports and other locations connected to the United States, as well as Iraqi institutions and civilian areas.
An American freelance journalist, Shelley Kittleson, was reportedly abducted in Baghdad and is believed to be held by Kataib Hezbollah, according to reporting from the New York Times. The militia has reportedly contacted Iraqi authorities, demanding the release of detained members in exchange.
In the Gulf, Saudi forces said they intercepted and destroyed four drones and a ballistic missile aimed at the Eastern Province. Bahrain closed a major highway for several hours after debris fell and sounded air-raid sirens for incoming strikes. Kuwaiti media reported fires at fuel depots near Kuwait International Airport following an Iranian drone attack, causing significant damage.
U.S. Central Command said it had struck more than 12,300 targets since the campaign began, focusing on elements of what it called Iran’s security apparatus and sites posing imminent threats. Central Command also reported that U.S. forces have damaged or destroyed over 155 vessels since the start of operations. Publicized targets included command centers, Revolutionary Guard positions, air defenses, ballistic missile sites, naval vessels and submarines, anti-ship missile positions, and facilities linked to drone and weapons production.
In his address, Trump urged countries that rely on the Strait of Hormuz to assume responsibility for defending the waterway. Iranian actions have intermittently choked passage through the strait, disrupting oil shipments and raising global prices for oil, gas and fertilizer. Trump suggested affected nations either purchase U.S. oil or take direct control of the strait to keep it open.
The United Kingdom convened a virtual meeting of 35 countries to discuss reopening the strait and restoring freedom of navigation; participants included Canada, several European states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The U.S. was not scheduled to attend. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the group would consider all viable diplomatic and political measures to protect ships and seafarers, resume the flow of essential commodities and explore naval options as needed, while stressing that Britain would not enter the war.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai criticized Trump’s speech, calling it part of a damaging cycle of war, negotiation and ceasefires that repeats itself and warning it was harmful for Iran, the region and beyond. He characterized Iran’s actions as self-defense against what he described as an illegal war.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, published an open letter to the American people questioning the rationale for the U.S.-led campaign and accusing Washington of acting against U.S. interests. Pezeshkian defended Iran’s strikes as measured and rooted in legitimate self-defense rather than the initiation of aggression, and urged a choice between confrontation and engagement, saying the world stands at a crossroads. His current influence within Iran’s leadership is unclear after recent strikes that reportedly damaged Tehran’s command structure and killed senior commanders.
Meanwhile, Israel continued airstrikes in Lebanon, carrying out another wave of attacks in southern Beirut, an area associated with Hezbollah. Lebanon’s government reported at least 50 people killed across the country on Wednesday. In southern Lebanon, Israeli tanks advanced into zones from which Hezbollah had been firing rockets after Lebanese Army units withdrew. Israel’s defense minister said he was establishing a security zone and destroying villages in what he described as a ‘Gaza model’ intended to prevent Hezbollah from using those areas to stage attacks. Many residents have fled following evacuation orders.
In his address, Trump pledged continued support for U.S. allies in the Middle East, saying the United States would not allow them to be harmed or fail. As the situation develops, the main concerns remain the safety of civilians across the region, the security of global shipping lanes, the stability of energy markets, and the risk that the conflict could broaden into wider regional warfare.