US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran during a national address on Wednesday, saying the country could face severe military action if ongoing negotiations fail. Speaking about what he called ‘Operation Epic Fury’, Trump claimed that American forces are close to achieving their objectives, while also hinting at an escalation in the coming weeks.
Ultimatum and ‘Stone Age’ warning
Trump said Iran would be struck “extremely hard” within the next two to three weeks if no agreement is reached. “Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objections 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,” he said.
He added that while discussions are underway, regime change was not initially a stated goal. “We never said regime change, but regime change has occurred because of all of their original leader's death,” Trump said, before issuing a direct warning. “Yet, if during this period of time, no deal is made… if there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard, and probably simultaneously.”
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Trump also claimed that the US had deliberately avoided targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure so far. “We have not hit their oil, even though that's the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding. But we could hit it, and it would be gone, and there's not a thing they could do about it. They have no anti aircraft equipment,” he said, adding, “We are unstoppable as a military force.”
Claims of battlefield success
Opening his address, Trump described recent military actions as swift and decisive. He said Iran’s naval and air capabilities had been significantly weakened. “Tonight, Iran's Navy is gone. Their Air Force is in ruins. Their leaders, most of them, the terrorist regime they led, are now dead. They're command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps being decimated as we speak,” he said.
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He further claimed that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities had been reduced, with weapons infrastructure being “blown to pieces,” calling the scale of damage unprecedented.
Shortly after the address, tensions appeared to rise again. Iran launched missiles toward Israel, according to Israeli military statements. Air defence systems were activated in response, marking the third such incident in just over three hours.
Sirens were heard across northern Israel, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, as per AFP.
