Trump outlines next steps in military action against Iran in address to nation

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night to provide an update on U.S. military operations against Iran, calling recent weeks "historic victories" while laying out potential next steps.

The United States and Iran have been locked in a major military confrontation since late February, after the U.S., backed by Israeli forces, launched extensive strikes against Iranian military, nuclear and strategic infrastructure. 

"The past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield," the president said. "Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating large-scale losses in a matter of weeks."

Military progress

Where things stand:

Trump said Iran’s key military forces are "decimated" and its missile stockpile reduced.

"Tonight, Iran's Navy is gone. Their air force is in ruins," he said. "From the very first day I announced my campaign for president in 2015, I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Perhaps most importantly, I killed Qasem Soleimani in my first term…he was an evil genius, a brilliant person, a horrible human being." 

For context, the first Trump administration carried out a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport that killed Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force. The U.S. government stated that Soleimani posed a serious threat to American personnel and interests in the region and that the strike aimed to prevent planned attacks at the time. 

Trump additionally mentioned the thirteen U.S. service members who have died in the operation, pledging to complete the mission.

"We think especially of the thirteen American warriors who have laid down their lives in this fight…their loved ones said, ‘Please, sir, please finish the job.’ Every one of them. And we are going to finish the job," he said.

Next steps

What's next:

U.S. forces are expected to continue striking key targets over the next two to three weeks, according to the president.

"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." 

Trump added that if diplomatic progress fails, the U.S. could target Iranian infrastructure, including electric power plants.

"If, during this period of time, no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets…we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard," he said, adding that oil facilities would not be struck for now.

Though regime change was not the stated goal, Trump also noted changes in Iran’s leadership during the address, describing the new leaders as "less radical and much more reasonable."

Iran's previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel at the end of February. 

Domestic, international and economic context

Big picture view:

The president linked military action to U.S. energy independence in his address, emphasizing, "America has plenty of gas. We have so much gas…we produce more oil and gas than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined."

It's worth noting that while the U.S. is the world’s largest producer of both oil and natural gas, it does not clearly outproduce Saudi Arabia and Russia combined in oil alone, though, including natural gas, its total hydrocarbon output slightly exceeds the combined production of the two countries, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. 

Trump added that the U.S. will support allies while encouraging them to protect regional shipping lanes towards the end of his address. 

"The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage. They must cherish it," the president said.

He also highlighted economic strength as a factor enabling sustained engagement abroad Wednesday night.

"We’ve taken a dead and crippled country…and made it the hottest country anywhere in the world by far," the president said.

Trump concluded by saying that the U.S. is close to achieving its objectives in Iran.

"Because of the actions we have taken, we are on the cusp of ending Iran's sinister threat to America and the world…the United States will be safer, stronger, more prosperous and greater than it has ever been before," he said.