Political News
Trump to hit Iran 'extremely hard' as he says war nearing completion
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Thursday 02 Apr 2026
(Sharecast News) - Donald Trump said in a national address on Wednesday that the war with Iran was "nearing completion" but that the US would hit Iran "extremely hard" over the coming weeks, sending oil prices higher.
In his speech, which lasted just under 20 minutes, Trump said the US was getting "very close".
"We are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," the US president said. "We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks."
Trump said negotiations between the US and Iran are "ongoing". However, if no deal is struck, the US will "hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard, and probably simultaneously," he said.
The US president also urged countries that get their oil through the Strait of Hormuz to "build up some delayed courage" and get involved to ensure it reopens.
"The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future. We don't need it," he said.
"We haven't needed it, and we don't need it." Trump said the US would be "helpful", but that other countries should take the lead in protecting the oil "that they so desperately depend on".
"Tonight, every American can look forward to a day when we are finally free from the wickedness of Iranian aggression and the spectre of nuclear blackmail because of the actions we have taken," he said.
"We are on the cusp of ending Iran's sinister threat to America and the world."
Oil prices jumped after Trump's speech and by 0700 BST, Brent crude was up 6.4% at $107.67 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was 5.5% higher at $105.60.
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