Trump threatens to send Iran "back to the stone age" if they do not reach an agreement soon

President Donald Trump delivered a forceful prime-time address from the White House on Wednesday, outlining the next phase of U.S. military operations against Iran. While the Republican leader did not offer an exact date on which the military operation against the Persian country would culminate, he assured that in recent days there have been significant advances towards the objectives of his administration, adding that the change of regime in Iran has brought as new hierarchs of the Islamic theocracy more reasonable and less radical figures.

"I can say tonight we’re on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly. We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing. Regime change was not our goal, but it has occurred because of all of their original leaders’ death. They are all dead. The new group is less radical and much more reasonable," Trump explained.

The president also indicated that while diplomatic efforts are still ongoing, failure to reach an agreement in the medium term would trigger further military action targeting Iranian infrastructure. "During this period of time no deal has been made. If there is no deal we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously. We have not hit their oil even though that is the easiest target of all because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding. But we could hit and it would be gone. We are unstoppable as a military force," the conservative leader said.

Trump urges other countries to get more involved to ensure oil passage

Elsewhere in his speech, Trump addressed growing tensions in global energy markets after oil shipments have slowed dramatically following Iran's threats to attack vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz. "To those countries that can’t get fuel, many of which refuse to get involved in the decapitation of Iran… build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait and just take it. Protect it," said Trump, who also urged international partners to shift their energy dependence to the United States, presenting it as a more stable alternative.

The Republican leader concluded his speech on Iran with an optimistic projection of the post-war scenario. "Tonight, every American can look forward to a day when we are finally free from the wickedness of Iranian aggression and the spectre of nuclear blackmail," said Trump, who also assured that "the United States will be safer, stronger, more prosperous and greater than it has ever been before."