In a prime-time televised address to the nation on April 1, US President Donald Trump told Americans that the goals of the military operation in Iran are nearly accomplished. Tehran, however, rejected his claims, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian published an open letter to the American public questioning the very purpose of the conflict. The conflict began on February 28 with a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Iran. NPR ↗
The operation, which Trump officially designated Operation Epic Fury, is, according to him, nearing its conclusion. Trump said Iran had been "basically decimated" and that "the hard part is behind us." Trump promised the operation would be completed within two to three weeks, while also threatening to send Iran "back to the Stone Age, where it belongs." Al Jazeera ↗ NBC News ↗
The address included, for the first time, official figures on American losses. Since the start of the operation, 13 American soldiers have been killed and nearly 350 more wounded. Trump described the war as "an investment in our children's future" and attributed rising gasoline prices solely to Iranian attacks. NBC News ↗
Iran denied Trump's claim that Tehran had requested a ceasefire. A spokesperson for the Iranian president, Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, stated that the Islamic Republic's position on defending its territorial integrity had not changed, and that "no attention is being paid to the delusions and lies of the criminals." Al Jazeera ↗
In his open letter to the American people, Pezeshkian posed a series of questions: "Which interests of the American people does this war actually serve? Does the massacre of innocent children, the destruction of pharmaceutical facilities used to treat cancer, or boasting about bombing a country back to the Stone Age serve any purpose other than further damaging the global standing of the United States?" He also suggested that America had entered the war as a proxy for Israel. Al Jazeera ↗
In his address, Trump reiterated that the United States imports almost no oil through the Strait of Hormuz. He told countries that depend on it to take care of the safety of shipping themselves. "Get some belated courage. You should have done this a long time ago," he said, addressing US allies. Al Jazeera ↗
Several European allies responded with refusal. Spain closed its airspace to American military aircraft, and Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that Spain wants an end to the war, not provisional measures. Italy refused to provide its base in Sicily to American bombers. Poland announced it had no plans to move Patriot systems to the Middle East, as its own security remains a priority. Al Jazeera ↗ NBC News ↗
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius summed it up by saying: "This is not our war, we did not start it." Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves remarked that it is "rather audacious" to ask for help from countries that Trump had previously insulted. NBC News ↗
Oil markets responded to Trump's speech with gains. The price of Brent crude rose above $105 a barrel. The International Energy Agency warned that the conflict is creating one of the largest supply disruptions in the history of the global oil market, with flow through the Strait of Hormuz dropping from the usual twenty million barrels per day to a minimum. NBC News ↗ NPR ↗
Analyst Trita Parsi points out that Trump's timeline keeps getting extended — first he promised four days, then three weeks, now two to three weeks. According to him, this pattern suggests the president is continually changing strategy. Al Jazeera ↗
Trump declared war goals nearly achieved, Iran denied it and addressed the American public
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Donald Trump
Prezident USA
17.09.2026
„Pokud to budu považovat za akt nepřátelství, uvalím značná cla, nebo přeruším s Evropou obchod."
Reakcia na možné pridruženie Kanady k Európskej únii
Donald Trump
Prezident USA
04.09.2026
„Nenávidia sa."
Trumpova odpoveď na otázku, čo bráni dohode medzi Vladimirom Putinom a Volodymyrom Zelenským.
Donald Trump
Prezident USA
04.09.2026
„Máme nápad na mier. Poslal som Steva Witkoffa a Jareda Kushnera, dvoch skvelých vyjednávačov. A je tu možno dobrá šanca, že to zvládneme."
Trump v Bielom dome oznámil, že vyslancov posiela do Moskvy s návrhom na ukončenie vojny. Obsah návrhu nezverejnil.
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Donald Trump
Prezident USA
03.09.2026
„leur monnaie ne vaut plus rien"
Vyjadrenie k hospodárskej situácii Iránu
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Donald Trump
Prezident USA
02.09.2026
„z Islamskiej Republiki Iranu pozostanie bardzo niewiele"
Varovanie pri možnosti iránskej reakcie
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Donald Trump
Prezident USA
02.09.2026
„se l'Iran dovesse reagire a questo attacco più che giustificato, subirebbe una nuova offensiva di ben altra portata e intensità"
Varovanie Iránu pred odvetou
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