War in Iran 'nearing completion' — but won't end until US achieves objectives, Trump says

Politics War in Iran 'nearing completion' — but won't end until US achieves objectives, Trump says April 2, 2026 4:53 am • 6 min read Prefer on Google by Abbey Fenbert U.S. President Donald Trump said in an address on April 1 that the war in Iran is approaching its end — while also pledging to continue fighting until the United States achieves its military objectives. The address marked Trump's first major speech on the war since the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Tehran on Feb. 28. He reiterated the stated goals of the operation, which include destroying Iran's navy and military-industrial base, dismantling the country's ability to sponsor regional terrorist groups, and preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. "I'm pleased ​to ​say that these ‌core ⁠strategic objectives are nearing ​completion," ​Trump said. The U.S. will not end the war until it achieves those objectives, he added. "We are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," he said. "We are going to hit them very hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the stone age where they belong." Trump spent the speech rehashing his justifications for the U.S. attack on Iran, praising the U.S. military's operational achievements, and stressing America's position of oil independence and economic strength. While some feared Trump would take the opportunity to threaten a U.S. withdrawal from NATO, Trump did not mention the alliance in his address. He did, however, urge other countries besides the U.S. to take responsibility for protecting the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's exit plan Trump said in his address that the war would end "very shortly," wrapping up in two to three weeks. He outlined plans to strike the country's electrical plants and send Iran "back to the Stone Age." He also assured the U.S. public that the spike in gasoline prices triggered by the war would be temporary. Since the U.S. launched coordinated stri...