Trump announces Iran war is 'nearing completion'



President Donald Trump has announced that Operation Epic Fury is "nearing completion" as the military operation against Iran approaches its fifth week.

During his address to the nation Wednesday night, Trump recapped the United States' progress in the region, aiming to reassure Americans that the conflict would soon draw to a close. Notably, Trump did not indicate whether the United States would put boots on the ground in the region.

'The hard part is done.'

Trump reiterated the objectives of the operation, including destroying Iran's air force and navy, debilitating its missile capabilities, and preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.

"Tonight, I'm pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," Trump said. "As we celebrate this progress, we think especially of the 13 American warriors who have laid down their lives in this fight to prevent our children from ever having to face a nuclear Iran."

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Trump also echoed the updates he provided throughout the week, urging European allies burdened by the oil crisis to buy American oil and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz themselves.

"The hard part is done, so it should be easy," Trump said. "And in any event, when this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally."

Although it is still unclear who in Iran the United States is negotiating with and the status of those negotiations, Trump said that he is on track to "get rid of a cancer that has long simmered."

"It's known as the nuclear Iran," Trump said. "And they didn't know what was coming. They never imagined it."

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