APTOPIX Trump Iran US

President Donald Trump says U.S. forces will “finish the job” in Iran soon as “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.” He offered a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago. He used his platform before a wide audience to tout the success of the U.S. operations and argue that all of Washington’s objectives have so far been met or exceeded, but said Iran would continue to face a barrage of attacks in the short term. But Trump also spent much of the address repeating many things he had already said in recent weeks and providing few new details.

President Donald Trump sought to explain his rationale for the war against Iran in a primetime address Wednesday. It was his first address on the war and it came at a pivotal moment at home and abroad as he amasses extraordinary executive authority to prosecute the military operation. Notably missing was his oft-repeated assertion that negotiations with Iran were underway. He softened his insults against NATO allies and did not indicate he was preparing to send in ground troops, particularly to retrieve Iran’s enriched uranium. But he gave no definitive end date for the conflict.