If no deal is reached, we will take Iran back to the Stone Age: Trump

US President Donald Trump, in an address to the nation since launching strikes on Iran four weeks ago, said the US would “hit Iran hard in the next two to three weeks,” and warned that if no deal is reached the US would take Tehran “back to the Stone Ages.” Trump reiterated that the conflict could be concluded within that timeframe as all strategic objectives of US are nearing completion.

"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," Trump said in a nationally televised address.

Trump, during the address, claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been largely dismantled, saying its navy was “gone,” the air force reduced to “ruins,” and much of its leadership eliminated. He added that Iran’s missile-launching capacity had been significantly curtailed, with key defence factories and infrastructure “mostly gone,” describing it as a near-total degradation of Tehran’s war-making ability.

Below are the key takeaways from Trump’s address.

• Trump said that operations over the past month have significantly weakened Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership, while reiterating that Washington’s priority remains eliminating Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons and support regional proxies.
• He said US forces have achieved rapid progress, describing the past month as marked by “swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield.”
• Trump maintained that Iran’s missile capabilities, naval assets and military leadership have been severely degraded during Operation Epic Fury.
• He said the US is close to achieving all its strategic objectives, including destroying Iran’s missile production, weakening its navy, and preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
• Trump compared the Iran campaign’s timeline with past US wars, noting that just over a month of operations has produced rapid military gains, and said, “we are in this military operation for 32 days. And the country has been eviscerated and essentially is really no longer a threat.
• He reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains the central objective, criticising previous diplomatic efforts such as the Obama-era nuclear deal.
• Trump said that the United States does not rely on oil from the Strait of Hormuz and will not take any in the future, urging countries dependent on the passage to build up some delayed courage and “take care of it.”
• Trump said the recent rise in gasoline prices is a “short-term increase” caused by Iranian attacks on regional oil tankers and assured that “prices will come back down soon.”
• He thanked regional allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain and said the US would not allow its Gulf allies to be harmed “in any shape or form.”
• Trump warned that Iran’s critical infrastructure, including electricity facilities, could be targeted if Tehran escalates or refuses to negotiate.
• Trump asserted that Washington is not pursuing Iran’s oil but acting to secure long-term regional stability.
• He said the end of the conflict may be near but warned that further escalation is possible if Iran refuses US terms, signalling that the coming weeks could determine the war’s direction.
• The US President did not discuss NATO, despite earlier criticizing the alliance for its perceived lack of support in the Iran conflict.