President Donald Trump declared Iran is "essentially really no longer a threat" after a 32-day U.S. military campaign, telling Americans in a primetime address Wednesday that the country has been "eviscerated" following weeks of strikes.
Even so, Trump said the United States is preparing additional attacks in the coming weeks even as diplomatic discussions continue.
"I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly. Very shortly, we are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," Trump said. "We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing."
Trump pointed to U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, saying sites hit by B-2 bombers were "obliterated" and warning the United States would launch additional strikes if Tehran attempts to recover nuclear material.
INSIDE IRAN’S MILITARY: MISSILES, MILITIAS AND A FORCE BUILT FOR SURVIVAL
"The nuclear sites that we obliterated with the B-2 bombers have been hit so hard that it would take months to get near the nuclear dust," Trump said. "If we see them make a move, even a move for it, we'll hit them with missiles very hard."
The remarks come as key questions remain about the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, including roughly 900 pounds to 1,000 pounds of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to international watchdog estimates.
The conflict has driven volatility in global energy markets and rising fuel costs for Americans.
WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR
Addressing those concerns directly, Trump blamed recent increases in gasoline prices on Iranian attacks targeting commercial shipping and regional infrastructure.
"Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home," Trump said. "The short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries."
Trump also suggested Iran’s leadership structure has been fundamentally altered by the strikes, saying senior figures are dead and warning of additional attacks if Tehran does not reach an agreement with the United States.
"We never said regime change, but regime change has occurred because of all of their original leaders' death. They're all dead," Trump said. "If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously."
He further claimed Iran’s air defenses had been eliminated. "They have no anti-aircraft equipment," Trump said. "Their radar is 100% annihilated. We are unstoppable."
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
