Trump says Iran war is nearing completion, vows harder strikes
President Donald Trump told Americans the conflict is “nearing completion” but warned of “extremely hard” hits over the next two to three weeks, while oil prices surged and markets reacted sharply to the address.
Mar 28, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT
Why it matters:
- Trump’s first national address on the Iran war signals a possible wind-down but also a threat to escalate, with immediate impacts on energy prices, markets, and regional security.
State of play:
- Trump said the war is “nearing completion” and projected another two to three weeks of involvement, while vowing to hit Iran “extremely hard” and bring it “back to the stone ages” if there is no deal.
- He did not offer a specific end date or a clear exit strategy, and markets reacted negatively as oil jumped and stocks fell after the speech.
What they're saying:
- “We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” Trump said in the White House address.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham called it a “compelling explanation” and said the U.S. is “2-3 weeks from reaching our military objectives,” including destroying Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.
- Sen. Mark Warner criticized the address as offering “no clear plan” to secure Iran’s nuclear material and noting the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Zoom in:
- Trump said the U.S. “imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won’t be taking any in the future,” urging other countries to protect the passage and buy U.S. oil.
- He warned that if there is no deal, the U.S. will “hit each and every one of their electric-generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously,” and said it could also target Iran’s oil industry.
The big picture:
- The war began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and has since choked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global energy prices.
- Iran has continued missile attacks on Israel and Gulf neighbors, while the U.S. is deploying additional ships and Marines to the region.
What to watch:
- Whether Trump sets a concrete deadline for reopening Hormuz or escalates strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure if no deal is reached.
- Oil prices and market volatility as the U.S. and Israel continue strikes and Iran retaliates.
The bottom line:
- Trump framed the war as nearly over but signaled a tougher final phase, leaving markets and allies bracing for more disruption.