US: Donald Trump Addresses the Nation; Says, “No Deal with Iran—We Will Not Allow It to Become a Nuclear Power”

New Delhi: Amidst the conflict with Iran, US President Donald Trump delivered a twenty-minute address to the nation. Trump—who has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if the country fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping—stated in his address today that the United States does not require oil from this route.

US President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Thursday morning at 6:30 AM (Indian Standard Time). In his first prime-time speech since launching joint military operations with Israel over a month ago, he provided an update on the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Donald Trump stated, “The United States imports almost no oil from the Strait of Hormuz. We do not need it. The nations that do receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz should take responsibility for that route. They should safeguard it and protect it.”

Through this speech, Trump seized the opportunity to reach a broad audience and articulate the objectives of the war. Through these stated objectives, he sought to reconcile the shifting targets and often contradictory messages of the past few weeks—specifically, whether he was winding down military operations or preparing to intensify them. Meanwhile, Iran continued to launch attacks against Israel and its neighboring nations in the Persian Gulf, even as Tehran itself came under aerial bombardment.

Donald Trump declared, “Over the past four weeks, our military has achieved swift, decisive, and overwhelming victories on the battlefield. We possess the strongest military in the world.”

We Will Strike Iran Hard: Trump
Donald Trump stated that the United States would further intensify its military operations against Iran in the coming weeks, even as behind-the-scenes negotiations continue. “We are going to hit them very hard in the next two to three weeks,” Trump said. He further added that Iran’s oil infrastructure remains a potential target, noting that, if necessary, the U.S. “could strike their oil facilities.”

At the same time, the U.S. President affirmed that diplomatic channels remain open and indicated that talks are ongoing while Washington deliberates its next steps.

U.S. Not Dependent on the Middle East: Trump
In his address, President Donald Trump also made mention of Venezuela and praised the U.S. troops who, through a swift operation, secured control over that country within a matter of minutes. He described the mission as fast, lethal, and forceful, adding that it has earned the United States respect across the globe.

Trump stated that the U.S. is now working jointly to develop and market Venezuela’s vast oil and gas reserves—resources he characterized as among the largest in the world. He also noted that the United States has achieved energy independence from the Middle East, yet would maintain a presence in the region to assist its allies.