President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a national address Wednesday evening on the status of the U.S. war against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury. A White House official said the speech will provide an operational update, highlighting progress meeting or exceeding benchmarks. The address comes amid closed Strait of Hormuz, rising U.S. gas prices above $4 per gallon, and growing protests by veterans.
President Trump plans to speak at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a White House official cited by Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan. The update will focus on military goals including degrading Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, targeting its navy, disrupting proxy terror groups, and striking nuclear program elements. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is 'very close to achieving our objectives,' making it nearly impossible for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon soon, though he avoided a firm timeline. Trump has said the conflict, now in its fifth week since late February airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel, could end in two to three weeks, with forces leaving soon and gas prices falling after the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Iran denies Trump's claim on Truth Social that its new regime president requested a ceasefire, which he conditioned on reopening the strait currently blocked by Tehran, threatening to 'blast Iran into oblivion' otherwise. Iran's foreign minister called the assertion 'false and baseless,' per Iranian state television. Casualties include 13 U.S. service members killed and over 300 wounded, matching Afghanistan's Abbey Gate toll in weeks, alongside Iran's claim of more than 1,700 deaths. Veterans voiced opposition at the 'No Kings' protest in Austin, Texas. Former Army Capt. Adrian, a war planner, questioned strategic objectives: 'I still don’t understand what we’re trying to do.' Others criticized escalation risks and Pentagon culture.
