Trump says US objectives in Iran 'nearing completion'

This live blog follows updates for Day 34 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 33, go here

• Iran says US making 'maximalist and irrational' demands: Iranian media
• Trump claim that Iran asked for ceasefire 'false': state TV
• Former Iran foreign minister badly wounded in strike: reports
• Iranians vow to 'resist until the end' at Guards naval chief's funeral
• US-Israeli strikes hit steel complexes in central, southwest Iran: media      

Oil rallies, stocks tumble as Trump says US to hammer Iran further

Published April 2, 2026 | 02:59 GMT

Oil prices spiked and stocks sank on Thursday after Donald Trump reiterated that US forces would hammer Iran for another two to three weeks but offered no solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has crippled global markets.

Investors appeared unimpressed by the US president's much-anticipated address to the nation, in which he again called on countries that rely on the waterway for their energy supplies to reopen it themselves.

The comments came amid growing fears about the economic impact of the crisis, which has seen governments introduce support measures, with the World Bank saying it was "extremely concerned".

In a speech lasting less than 20 minutes, Trump added little to what he has said in the past, warning that "over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong".

Australia PM says Iran war objectives met, 'not clear' what more to achieve

Published April 2, 2026 | 02:45 GMT

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original aims of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.

Albanese called for de-escalation, noting that US-Israeli attacks had degraded Iran's air force, navy and military industrial base.

"Now those objectives have been realized it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like," he said during a speech in the capital Canberra.

"What is clear is that the longer the war goes on the more significant the impact on the global economy will be."

Israel says intercepting Iran missile attack, first after Trump speech

Published April 2, 2026 | 02:21 GMT

Israel's military said air defenses were responding to an Iranian missile attack on Thursday, shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered an address to the American public about the Middle East war.

The military said in a statement it had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel" for the third time in just over three hours, adding that "defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat".

Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel, according to the military's Home Front Command, and there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.

Trump says US to hit Iran 'extremely hard' for 2-3 weeks

Published April 2, 2026 | 02:05 GMT

US President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to attack Iran relentlessly over the coming two to three weeks, saying American forces were nearing completion of the war.

"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," Trump said in an address to the nation, adding that US forces would meet all their battlefield goals "very, very shortly."

Trump urges other countries to show 'courage' and 'take care' of Strait of Hormuz

Published April 2, 2026 | 01:38 GMT

US President Donald Trump called on Wednesday for countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz to show "courage" and seize the key waterway, while saying Washington will not allow its Middle East allies to be harmed.

"The countries of the world that... receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage," Trump said in his first prime-time address since the start of the war with Iran. "Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves."

Trump says US objectives in Iran 'nearing completion'

Published April 2, 2026 | 01:18 GMT

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States is "nearing completion" of its objectives in the war against Iran and hailed American forces for scoring "overwhelming victories" in the conflict.

"Tonight, I'm pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," Trump said in his first prime-time address since the start of the conflict in late February.

"In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield -- victories like few people have ever seen before," he said.

UAE says air defenses responding to missiles, drones

Published April 2, 2026 | 00:55 GMT

Emirati air defenses were responding to missile and drone "threats" on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates' defense ministry said.

"UAE air defenses... are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats," the ministry said in a post on X, providing no details about where the projectiles had originated.