Quick victory, aggressive attacks, oil grabbing... What did Trump say in his nationwide speech?

Local time April 1st evening, U.S. President Trump delivered a speech at the White House, declaring himself a “rapid, decisive, overwhelming victory” in the Iran conflict.

Trump stated that the U.S. core strategic goal in the Iran war is “close to completion.” He said, “The Iranian navy has now been completely destroyed, and their air force and missile programs have also been heavily damaged.”

Intense Strikes in the Next Two or Three Weeks

Trump said that all military objectives in the Iran conflict are expected to be achieved “in a very short period of time.” “In the next two to three weeks, we will launch extremely fierce strikes against them… Meanwhile, negotiations are also ongoing.”

Trump claimed that regime change in Iran is not the goal of the United States, but at the same time, he declared that regime change in Iran has already occurred. He said that if Iran does not reach an agreement with the U.S. within the next two to three weeks, U.S. forces will target key Iranian sites, “very fiercely striking every power plant they have,” and may also target Iranian oil facilities.

Trump also stated that last June, U.S. forces launched a fierce attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, causing Iran to “need months to get close to that nuclear ruins.” The U.S. is closely monitoring Iran’s nuclear facilities via satellites, “and if we see any movement from them, even a tiny bit, we will strike them again with missiles.”

Reigniting the “Oil Grab”

In his speech, Trump claimed that the U.S. almost does not need to import oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and that countries needing to access oil through the Strait must “take responsibility for maintaining this passage themselves.”

He urged these countries either to “buy oil from the U.S.,” or to muster the courage to directly “grab oil” at the Strait of Hormuz. He said that when the Iran conflict ends, the strait will “naturally open.”

Previously, on March 31, Trump posted on social media that all countries unable to obtain aviation fuel due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, such as the UK, which refused to participate in the fight against Iran, “I suggest: first, buy from the U.S., we have plenty; second, muster the courage to go and seize it at the strait.”

Iran Launches Missiles, Oil Prices Rise Significantly

Nearly half an hour after Trump’s speech, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on the 2nd saying they detected Iran launching missiles at Israel, and their air defense systems are intercepting them.

As Trump’s speech failed to ease market concerns, the London Brent crude oil futures price for June delivery surged at one point by over 4% during the trading session on the 2nd, reaching $105.7 per barrel. (Reporters: Guo Wendi, Huang Qiang, Feng Yasong, Wang Ping, Hu Yousong; Video: Wang Yujuo, Danran)