U.S. President at 9 p.m. EDT offers an update on the progress made toward achieving his goals in the war with Iran, which are to destroy the country鈥檚 missile production and Navy, ensure its proxies can no longer destabilize the region and guarantee Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump did not mention a looming deadline he set for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz or face attacks from U.S. forces on its energy infrastructure.
He earlier Wednesday claimed . Trump made the claim on his Truth Social website. Iran鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Trump鈥檚 remarks were 鈥渇alse and baseless.鈥�
The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush along with three destroyers, two U.S. officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 sailors. It comes as thousands of have also begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two other U.S. officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.
Meanwhile, U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war continues to . Analysts say those high fuel costs will trickle into groceries as businesses鈥� transportation and packaging costs pile up.
Here is the latest:
Democrats slam Trump speech for failing to offer answers on Iran war
Democrats are criticizing Trump鈥檚 primetime address to the American people on the war in Iran as 鈥渋ncoherent鈥� and as doing little to answer 鈥渢he most basic questions the American people,鈥� according to statements from two Democratic lawmakers released on Wednesday.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., noted that Trump owed Americans more answers about a conflict that has driven up prices on gas 鈥渁longside rising prices for diesel, fertilizer, aluminum, and other essentials, with consequences that will continue to ripple through the economy for a long time to come鈥� in his statement.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., released a statement that said the 鈥渟peech was grounded in a reality that only exists in Donald Trump鈥檚 mind.鈥�
Murphy went on to add that 鈥渘o one in America, after listening to that speech, knows whether we are escalating or deescalating.鈥�
Oil rises and Asian stocks fall after Trump鈥檚 address
Oil rose more than 4% and Asian stocks fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said in his first national address since the Iran war began that the U.S. will keep hitting Iran very hard.
Trump also said the United States will 鈥渇inish the job鈥� in Iran and that military operations could wrap up soon.
Tokyo鈥檚 Nikkei 225 was down 1.4% to 53,004.81 in early Asia trading on Thursday. South Korea鈥檚 Kospi lost 3.4% to 5,292.36. Hong Kong鈥檚 Hang Seng fell 0.8% to 25,082.59.
U.S. futures were down more than 0.7%.
Oil prices were sharply higher following Trump鈥檚 remarks. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 5% to $106.22 per barrel. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 4.2% to $104.36 a barrel.
Trump doesn鈥檛 mention coming deadline he set for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
Trump has set an early April deadline for Tehran to open the strait, or face attacks from U.S. forces on its energy infrastructure.
Last week, as the first deadline approached, Trump said he would delay a threatened strike until April 6, saying talks to end the war were 鈥済oing very well.鈥� That announcement on social media came after , as doubt took over again on Wall Street about a possible end to the war.
But in a social media post earlier Wednesday before his speech, Trump demanded that Iran , or the U.S. would bomb the Islamic Republic 鈥渂ack to the Stone Ages.鈥�
Israeli military works to intercept new missile launch
Less than half an hour after Trump鈥檚 speech, Israel said its military was working to intercept a missile launch from Iran 鈥� the third on Thursday.
Sirens went off across northern Israel, from the city of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast to the Sea of Galilee.
Trump stresses that Americans 鈥榟ave so much gas鈥� as prices soar
Stressing his view of the strength of the U.S. economy under his leadership, Trump sought to allay fears about rising gas prices as the war has gone on.
Arguing that the U.S. has plenty of its own fuel stores because of his 鈥渄rill baby, drill鈥� attitude on domestic oil production, Trump said that the country produces more oil and gas than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined.
The U.S. was the leading oil producer in the world in 2025, pumping more than 13 million barrels per day. Russia and Saudi Arabia ranked second and third globally, each producing more than 9.5 million barrels per day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
This week, past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, as continues to push fuel prices higher worldwide. The last time were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.
No mention of US ground troops, NATO in Trump鈥檚 Iran speech
Thousands of to the Middle East this week, but there was no mention of them 鈥� or the thousands more who have .
Trump also didn鈥檛 talk directly about NATO, at whose members he has fumed over refusal to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he was pulling the United States out of NATO, ratcheting up his criticism of European leaders.
The war has sent petroleum prices soaring as Iran has effectively shut the strait, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world鈥檚 oil passes.
On Wednesday night, Trump said Americans 鈥渄on鈥檛 need鈥� the strait and that the countries who do 鈥渕ust grab it and cherish it.鈥�
鈥業ntense satellite surveillance鈥�: Trump says US is watching Iran鈥檚 nuclear activity in case it restarts
The Republican president said that Iran鈥檚 various nuclear sites are under 鈥渋ntense satellite surveillance and control鈥� by the U.S. as both Israeli and American forces have targeted the areas repeatedly, first last June, and more recently in the last month.
Despite saying that the joint strikes last summer had 鈥渙bliterated鈥� the Islamic Republic鈥檚 nuclear program, Trump has made conflicting statements about the status of Tehran鈥檚 activity in the last several months.
鈥淚f we see them make a move, even a move for it, we will hit them with missiles very hard again,鈥� Trump said.
Trump emphasizes long timelines of past wars
As part of his plea for patience from U.S. voters, the president ticked through the timeline of American involvement in earlier conflicts.
鈥淲orld War I lasted one year, seven months and five days,鈥� he said. 鈥淲orld War II lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days.鈥� He added references to Korea, Vietnam and Iraq 鈥� noting Vietnam鈥檚 nearly 20-year U.S. commitment.
Action in Iran has spanned 32 days by comparison, Trump said, and been 鈥渟o powerful, so brilliant鈥� that 鈥渙ne of the most powerful countries鈥� is 鈥渞eally no longer a threat.鈥�
A recent found that 6 out of 10 U.S. adults said Trump鈥檚 actions in Iran had gone too far.
Trump repeats unsupported claim that Iran鈥檚 military is 鈥榙ecimated鈥�
While Trump again claimed 鈥淚ran has been essentially decimated鈥� and that efforts by other nations to secure the Strait of Hormuz 鈥渟hould be easy,鈥� data from independent observers does not support this claim.
While there鈥檚 been a slowdown in Iranian strikes, a degraded Iranian military nonetheless remains a stubborn foe.
Iran went from almost 100 strikes on March 1, the second day of the war, to no more than 50 strikes on any given day since March 6, according to independent data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, or ACLED, a U.S.-based group that tracks conflicts worldwide. A 鈥渟trike,鈥� in the group鈥檚 methodology, can include multiple individual strikes in the same location on the same day.
Experts say any short-term decline could be a sign that Iran is deliberately rationing its missiles and drones as opposed to running out of firepower.
Trump again criticizes nuclear deal brokered by Obama
The president spoke of the decades-long history of tensions between the U.S. and Iran, saying the dynamic should have 鈥渂een handled鈥� before his arrival at the White House. But he was particularly critical of President Barack Obama鈥檚 nuclear deal, reiterating his longstanding derision of that framework.
鈥淗is Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran,鈥� Trump said.
Iran long has insisted its nuclear program was peaceful. It had, however, been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels.
Before the war, U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that Iran had yet to begin a weapons program, but had 鈥渦ndertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.鈥�
鈥榃e鈥檙e there to help our allies鈥�: Trump once again shifts reasoning for Iran war
Trump and members of his administrations have cited many reasons and rationales for why the U.S. joined Israel on Feb. 28 in launching a war against Iran. In his first address to the nation since the start of the Iran war, Trump says the military action is not for getting any of the country鈥檚 vast resources, including oil, but instead to help America鈥檚 allies.
鈥淲e鈥檙e now totally independent of the Middle East, and yet we are there to help,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have to be there. We don鈥檛 need their oil. We don鈥檛 need anything they have.鈥�
But, he added, 鈥渨e鈥檙e there to help our allies.鈥�
Trump begins address on Iran commending 鈥榮wift, decisive, overwhelming victories鈥�
Speaking in the Cross Hall at the White House, Trump said Wednesday night that Operation Epic Fury鈥檚 actions over the past month meant that Iran鈥檚 鈥渁bility to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces.鈥�
Trump also said that the country鈥檚 鈥渘avy is gone, their air force is in ruins,鈥� and the country鈥檚 leaders, 鈥渁re now dead.鈥�
He also said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 鈥渋s being decimated as we speak.鈥�
Trump says he鈥檚 not sure people in the US 鈥榟ave the patience鈥� for Iran war to continue
In his private remarks at an Easter lunch at the White House, the president seemed to reflect the domestic pressure he鈥檚 feeling to wrap up the war. He said that the U.S. could 鈥渧ery easily鈥� take Iran鈥檚 oil but said it 鈥渋s unfortunate鈥� that there did not seem to be patience among the American people for such an effort.
鈥淭hey want to see it end,鈥� he said.
Trump said he would prefer to take Iran鈥檚 oil 鈥渂ut people in the country sort of say, 鈥楯ust win. You鈥檙e winning so big. Just win. Come home.鈥� And I鈥檓 OK with that too,鈥� he said.
Video of the speech was posted online by a Business Insider reporter who said he noticed the White House had uploaded video of the closed-press event and downloaded it before it was later made private. The White House did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on why it took the video down.
United Arab Emirates warns public early Thursday about a missile threat from Iran
A series of blasts could be heard in Dubai as air defenses worked to intercept the Iranian barrage.
The attack happened just before U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 speech to the American people about the war.
Trump says China, Japan and South Korea should also be involved in opening the Strait of Hormuz
The president has previously directed much of his anger at NATO allies for their reluctance to get involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. and Israel finish prosecuting their war against Iran.
But in his remarks at the private Easter lunch he hosted at the White House on Wednesday, Trump also expressed frustration with some Asian countries that are more reliant on Gulf oil than the U.S.
鈥淟et South Korea, you know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm鈥檚 way over there, right next to a nuclear force 鈥� let South Korea do it,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淟et Japan do it. They get 90% of their oil from the strait. Let China do it.鈥�
Trump at private lunch ahead of Iran speech derides NATO as 鈥榲ery bad allies鈥� and 鈥榩aper tiger鈥�
鈥淣ATO treated us very badly, and you have to remember it because they鈥檒l be treating us badly again if we ever need them,鈥� Trump fumed anew about the alliance. 鈥淎nd hopefully, we鈥檙e never going to need them. I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l need them. I don鈥檛 think they can do very much.鈥�
Trump added, 鈥淣ATO won鈥檛 be there if we ever have the big one.鈥�
The president鈥檚 scathing comments came during remarks at a private lunch on Wednesday at the White House that Trump hosted to mark the coming Easter holiday. Video of the speech was posted online by a Business Insider reporter who said he noticed the White House had uploaded video of the closed-press event and downloaded it before the White House later made it private.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on why it took the video down.
3 children injured in central Israel in Iran鈥檚 first missile attack on Thursday
Israel鈥檚 emergency services say a 12-year-old and two 7-month-olds were mildly injured from shattered glass in central Israel in the first launch of missiles Thursday from Iran.
A 24-year-old was also mildly injured in the same overnight incident in Bnei Brak, a city east of Tel Aviv that鈥檚 been struck repeatedly during the war, according to Magen David Adom rescue services. On Wednesday morning there, an 11-year-old girl was injured by shrapnel in another missile strike and she remained in critical condition, the medical service added.
Israel鈥檚 military said it was working to intercept another missile launch from Iran early on Thursday morning.
Israeli military says Iran has launched its first missile barrage of the day
Very early on Thursday, Israel鈥檚 military said Iran had launched missiles at the country, the first time of the day.
Sirens sounded the alert in Tel Aviv, central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.
Secretary-General Rutte to visit Washington next week as Trump continues to lash at NATO
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Washington next week as Trump continues to lash at members of the military alliance for rejecting the U.S. leader鈥檚 call to help open up the Strait of Hormuz.
The visit by Rutte was confirmed by a White House official who was not authorized to comment on the yet to be formally announced visit and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Trump and Rutte have a good relationship, but the president has sounded increasingly annoyed with alliance members as the Iran war grinds on, particularly the United Kingdom and France.
The dynamic is creating uncertainty and , whose value Trump has long .
鈥� Aamer Madhani
Some Israeli families celebrate first Passover gathering in shelters as Iran sends missile barrage
Iran launched approximately 10 missiles, one right after the other, targeting central Israel in the early evening of Wednesday, Israel鈥檚 military said. The siren alerts in rapid succession sent millions of residents into shelters about an hour before sundown 鈥� when Jews were getting ready to celebrate the first night of , one of the holiest times of the year.
The holiday, commemorating the ancient Israelites鈥� Exodus from slavery in Egypt, is celebrated around family dinner tables and at communal banquets. In Ramat Gan, just outside Tel Aviv, some families set up long, festive tables for the traditional Seder meal in an underground shelter, next to sleeping tents.
In letter to Americans, Iran鈥檚 president asks if the war is in their interest
鈥淓xactly which of the American people鈥檚 interests are truly being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behavior?鈥� President Masoud Pezeshkian said in the letter that he posted in English on his X account on Wednesday.
He said that, in its modern history, Iran never chose aggression 鈥渄espite possessing military superiority over many of its neighbors.鈥�
Further, the Iranian president signaled that the U.S. has entered the war as a proxy for Israel, and insisted that what Iran continues to do in its attacks against neighboring countries is a 鈥渕easured response grounded in legitimate self-defense.鈥�
鈥淚s 鈥楢merica First鈥� truly among the priorities of the U.S government today?鈥� he asked.
Hegseth expected before Congress later this month
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is tentatively set to testify April 29 before the House Armed Services Committee, where he鈥檒l likely face lawmakers鈥� questions for the first time since the Iran war began, according to a congressional staffer with knowledge of the matter.
The meeting will serve as the annual Pentagon budget hearing and will include Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the staffer, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm the hearing.
Hegseth and Caine are expected to get questions about the war鈥檚 objectives, costs and casualties.
鈥� Ben Finley
Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of humanitarian aid trapped in Strait of Hormuz chokehold, global aid agency head warns
President of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband made these remarks during an online briefing with journalists after visiting Syria and war-torn Lebanon.
Over $100,000 worth of IRC humanitarian aid for lifesaving initiatives is trapped in its hub in Dubai.
Iran has been cementing its chokehold the Strait of Hormuz in the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, the world鈥檚 most important artery for oil shipments.
鈥淭hirty percent of the world鈥檚 fertilizer goes through there,鈥� said Miliband, fearing a food security crisis in many vulnerable countries where the organization works. 鈥淲e are advocating that all the goods in that hub be given safe passage immediately.鈥�
Traffic through the strait has fallen by 90% since the start of the Iran war, sending global oil prices skyrocketing and inflicting alarming shortages on the Asian nations that get their oil from Persian Gulf countries via the strait.
United Nations Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres set up an initiative to allow humanitarian assistance to move through the strait in a bid to prevent a global food crisis.
Trump will update the nation on progress in Iran, reiterating his timeline for a conclusion
The president鈥檚 prime-time address will offer an update on U.S. progress toward achieving his goals in Iran, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the address.
The official said those goals are to destroy Iran鈥檚 missile production, destroy its Navy, ensure its proxies can no longer destabilize the region, and guarantee Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump is also expected to reiterate his estimated timeline of concluding operations within two to three weeks.
鈥� Collin Binkley
Iran鈥檚 president says the world 鈥榮tands at crossroads鈥� between diplomacy and confrontation
Iran鈥檚 President Masoud Pezeshkian in a message to American people said both confrontation and engagement between Iran and the U.S. are accessible, adding that Iran will endure any aggression by the U.S.
鈥淭oday, the world stands at crossroads. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before. The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come,鈥� Pezeshkian said. 鈥淭hroughout its millennia of proud history, Iran has outlasted many aggressors. All that remains of them are tarnished names in history, while Iran endures 鈥� resilient, dignified, and proud.鈥�
Pezeshkina did not mention a ceasefire offer last week by President Trump, though he accused Israel of dragging the U.S. into a war against Iran.
鈥淚s it not also the case that America has entered this aggression as a proxy for Israel, influenced and manipulated by that regime? 鈥� asked Pezeshkian.
War-torn Lebanon is facing 鈥榝astest growing displacement crisis in the world,鈥� says international aid organization president
David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee made these remarks during an online briefing with journalists after visiting Lebanon and Syria.
More than one million Lebanese were displaced during the past month in the latest conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Israel has issued evacuation orders for large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut鈥檚 southern suburbs. Only a small portion of them are staying in government-run public schools turned-shelters, while others stay with family or even in tents on the streets.
鈥淭here is nothing like driving in front of the Lebanon yacht club and in front of it are Lebanese in tents who are displaced,鈥� said Miliband, who decried the tiny country鈥檚 situation as a 鈥渟ilent emergency that is getting very little attention.鈥�
China says it will work with Pakistan to end hostilities in the Middle East
China on Wednesday said it would stay in 鈥渃lose communication with Pakistan and relevant parties鈥� on the Iran war and 鈥減lay a constructive role in promoting the end of hostilities.鈥�
It comes a day after China鈥檚 foreign minister met Pakistan鈥檚 top diplomat in Beijing and said China supported efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar that it would not be an easy task and that China would be 鈥渨illing to work with Pakistan鈥� to end the 鈥渇lames of war鈥� as soon as possible and open the 鈥渨indow to peace talks.鈥�
Wang said Pakistan鈥檚 efforts were in the interest of all sides, including averting spillover effects, preventing further casualties, stabilizing international energy security and protecting supply chains.
Following their meeting Tuesday, the two governments put forward a five-point proposal, including ceasing hostilities, starting peace talks, protecting civilian targets and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
NATO gets bipartisan support ahead of Trump speech
NATO is getting defended on a bipartisan basis by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., ahead of Trump鈥檚 address to the nation on Wednesday night.
Trump is expected to criticize NATO members for not joining the U.S. in its war with Iran.
McConnell and Coons said in a joint statement that 鈥淣ATO is the most successful military alliance in history鈥� and stressed how its members 鈥渇ought and died,鈥� along with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
鈥淎mericans are safer when NATO is strong and united,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淭he Senate will continue to support the alliance for the peace and protection it provides America, Europe, and the World.鈥�
The National Defense Authorization Act in 2023 has provision that requires a two-thirds approval from the Senate in order to leave NATO or a separate measure by Congress, limiting the president鈥檚 ability to do so unilaterally.
Bahrain says protecting maritime security is critical as Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Jamal Alrowaiei accused Iran of 鈥渆conomic terrorism鈥� and violating international law. And he urged adoption of a U.N. resolution that would authorize countries 鈥渢o use all necessary means鈥� to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
He expressed hope at a U.N. news conference that the Security Council will adopt the resolution 鈥渁s soon as possible,鈥� and as early as Thursday. But Russia, China and France objected to the latest draft, and negotiations were continuing.
Alrowaiei, the Arab representative on the council and its president for April, said Gulf countries had tried 鈥渢o build bridges of peace with Iran,鈥� and the attacks they were subjected to immediately after the Israeli-U.S. airstrikes on Feb. 28 were 鈥渟hocking and premeditated.鈥�
He said Bahrain, home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has been targeted by 186 missiles and 419 drones and has suffered damage to desalination plants, hotels, the airport and other civilian infrastructure.
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