Trump Threatens to Escalate Iran War But Says End Is Very Close

Donald Trump during a prime-time address to the nation in the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1.

Photographer: Alex Brandon/AP Photo/Bloomberg

President Donald Trump said the war in Iran is “very close” to completion, even as he said the US plans to launch fresh attacks on the country within the next two to three weeks.

Trump in a rare prime-time address on Wednesday cast the war as a success, saying the operation had nearly achieved its military goals, including destroying Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, air force, navy and industrial base. He said those steps would prevent Tehran’s proxies from destabilizing the region and cut off the country’s path to nuclear weapons.