President Donald Trump has vowed to bomb Iran “back to the stone ages,” pledging devastating strikes over the next two to three weeks if Iran does not reach a deal with the United States.
In a primetime address to the nation on Wednesday, April 1, Trump warned that the U.S. military will target Iranian power plants if negotiations fail.
“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’re going to hit them extremely hard. Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong,” Trump said.
“If during this period of time no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets. If no deal is reached, we are going to hit every one of their electric generating plants very hard, and probably simultaneously.”
Trump further insisted regime change was not the U.S. goal but claimed it had already occurred following the death of Iran’s original leader. The president framed the conflict as a long‑term investment in American security.
Also Read: CENTCOM Reveals Massive Scale of U.S. Strikes as Iran Campaign Enters Second Month
He reiterated that the war was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, despite U.S. intelligence assessments last year that Tehran was not pursuing them.
President Trump speaks on the Strait of Hormuz
At the same time, the president thanked Middle East allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain. He also acknowledged rising gas prices at home, which have climbed more than 25 percent since the war began.
Trump urged other nations to take responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked.
“Build up some delayed courage. Go to the strait and just take it, protect it,” the president added.
“This short‑term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers.”
Trump claimed U.S. forces had delivered “overwhelming victories” since launching Operation Epic Fury on February 28, maintaining that “Iran’s navy is gone, its air force is in ruins, most of its leaders are dead, and its ability to launch missiles has been curtailed.”
Also Read: UK Reports Tanker Hit as First Country Moves to Join Strait of Hormuz Reopening Force
He argued that withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal saved Israel and the Middle East from destruction as “they would have had nuclear weapons years ago, and they would have used them.”
The address followed Trump’s Oval Office remarks Tuesday, where he suggested the campaign could end within “two to three weeks.” He said the condition for withdrawal was degrading Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities to “stone age” levels.
Trump also predicted oil prices would fall sharply once U.S. forces stopped their campaign against Iran.
Latest developments in the Iran war
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) earlier on Wednesday reported 12,300 targets struck since February, including 155 Iranian vessels.
Israeli forces continued strikes in Lebanon, with the death toll rising to 1,318 while Iranian counterattacks caused injuries and damage in central Israel on the eve of Passover. Hezbollah also claimed rocket attacks on Israeli military infrastructure near Haifa.
Kuwait, on its part, reported a blaze at airport fuel tanks after an alleged Iranian attack, while Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE intercepted missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the Eastern Province.
