More aggressive attacks on Iran will be launched: Trump

US President Donald Trump said in an address to the nation that his country will launch more fierce and aggressive attacks on Iran in the next two to three weeks.

In his address to the nation on Wednesday (April 1), he claimed that the United States is on track to achieve its main strategic objectives in the ongoing war in Iran.

In this address to the American people, Trump mentioned that his forces have achieved a ‘swift, decisive and overwhelming victory’ on the battlefield in the past 32 days of military operations. He also claimed that Iran is no longer a threat to American security. According to Trump, Iran will be severely hit in the next few weeks and their capabilities will be returned to the ‘Stone Age’.

The war, which began on February 28, has killed thousands of people across the Middle East and caused instability in the global oil market due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump made it clear in his speech that America’s military objectives are going to be fulfilled very soon.

He told Reuters in an interview that the US and Israeli strikes had ensured that Iran would not be able to obtain nuclear weapons. Although he did not provide any evidence to support his claim, he warned that if a nuclear threat arose again in the future, US forces would carry out a “spot hit” or targeted attack if necessary.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have expressed deep concern about the impact of the war on global markets. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to rise abnormally and stock markets to plummet. However, Trump claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was not essential for the United States and that countries that depend on the region’s oil should work to reopen it.

He called on allies, especially European countries, to “muster up the courage” and take control of the Strait of Hormuz. He has even expressed his dissatisfaction with NATO and indicated that the United States may consider withdrawing from the defense alliance if European countries do not help.

On the other hand, reports of Iran offering a ceasefire have been denied. Although Pakistan is trying to mediate in the crisis, Tehran has made it clear that it does not want a temporary ceasefire, but rather a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire.

According to US intelligence agencies, Iran is not currently interested in any major negotiations. Trump has threatened that if no agreement is reached within a certain period, a major attack will be launched on every power generating facility in Iran. All in all, Trump's statement and Iran's stubborn stance indicate that the next two weeks are going to be a very critical time for the Middle East, reports Reuters.