Washington: US President Donald Trump, in an address to the nation on Thursday, took a tough stance on the ongoing military action against Iran. Trump claimed that Iran’s navy, air force, and missile capabilities have been completely destroyed in the past month of war. He cited oil installations, saying they are the easiest targets, but they have not been attacked so far because they would give Iran no chance to recover.
Trump clarified that Iran no longer possesses any effective air defense system or radar, making the US military militarily invincible. Amid speculation about a ceasefire, the president announced that the US campaign would continue for the time being. He warned that more deadly attacks would be launched against Iran in the next two to three weeks to completely defeat it. Regarding the scope for negotiations, Trump said that his goal was not regime change, but that a new and more intelligent group is now active in Iran due to the decimation of the leadership. The president issued a direct threat, saying that if a deal is not reached soon, all of Iran’s power plants will be targeted simultaneously, pushing it back to the Stone Age.
However, he also acknowledged that the American public now wants to see this war end soon. Trump issued a direct threat against Iran’s oil fields, stating that the US has not yet deliberately targeted these sites, but that if attacked, they would be completely destroyed. Speaking on the global energy market, he claimed that US oil production now exceeds that of Saudi Arabia and Russia combined, making the current rise in fuel prices only temporary. Regarding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, he advised allies that other countries should now take the lead in securing it. He challenged the world to rely on the US for their energy needs and muster the courage to protect their own.
Trump clarified that the US is no longer dependent on foreign oil and that other countries should take steps to ensure their own energy security. Specifically mentioning the Strait of Hormuz, Trump stated that countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil must take responsibility for keeping this sea route open. He clearly indicated that America will no longer take the lead in this matter, but the affected countries will have to show courage themselves. Trump also targeted those countries which did not join the action against Iran, and suggested them to buy American oil. During his address, he expressed gratitude to allies like Israel and Gulf countries. In a scathing attack on Iran, Trump said that it should never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, because it will use it to blackmail the entire world and create instability.
