In a speech, the US president states that the central objectives of the conflict, which began 32 days ago, are close to being achieved
In his first national address since the start of the war, the President of the United States (USA), Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday night (1st) that the US military forces are “systematically dismantling” the Iranian regime’s defense capabilities and that the “central strategic” objectives of the conflict, which began 32 days ago, would be close to being achieved.
In the roughly 20-minute statement, Trump touted what he said were battlefield victories and promised to increase attacks on logos in the coming weekswithout ruling out negotiations.
“We’re going to strike with extreme force in the next two to three weeks. We’re going to take them back to the Stone Age where they belong. In the meantime, negotiations continue. Regime change was not our goal — we never said that — but it occurred because of the death of virtually all of the original leaders. They all died,” said the American.
“The new group is less radical and more reasonable. Still, if there is no agreement during this period, we have defined strategic targets.”
These targets, according to him, would be power generation plants. “We do not attack oil, although it is the easiest target, because that would eliminate any chance of survival or reconstruction”, he pointed out.
At various times, without presenting clear evidence, Trump exaggerated his rhetoric and claimed to have “destroyed and crushed” Iranian military forces, such as the Persian country’s Navy and Air Force.
Despite this, I was unable to explain why the Strait of Hormuzpassage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which up to 20% of oil exports circulated, continues with controlled and restricted access by the Iranians, with strong impacts on international fuel prices.
In this regard, Trump declared that the USA does not depend on oil sold through this route and said that countries that do depend must be responsible for access to the maritime channel.
“The United States imports almost no oil through the Strait of Hormuz — and it won’t in the future. We don’t need it. We defeated and practically decimated Iran. They are devastated and the countries of the world that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz need to take care of that passage. We will help, but they must take the lead in protecting the oil they depend on so much,” he said.
Allies and high oil
Trump thanked and mentioned the names of allied countries in the Middle East, such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. These countries, which maintain North American bases in their territorieshave been targeted by Iran in retaliation for Israeli and US attacks.
About the rise in oil, the US president minimized the problemsaying it is a temporary situation.
“Many Americans have been concerned about the recent increase in the price of gasoline here at home. This short-term increase is a direct result of the Iranian regime’s insane terrorist attacks against commercial oil tankers in neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict. This is further proof that Iran can never be trusted with nuclear weapons,” he said.
When citing the duration of the war to justify its continuation, Trump compared it to other historic military conflicts the US has been involved in over the last century.
“American participation in the First World War lasted 1 year, 7 months and 5 days. The Second World War lasted 3 years, 8 months and 25 days. The Korean War lasted 3 years, 1 month and 2 days. The Vietnam War lasted 19 years, 5 months and 29 days. The Iraq War lasted 8 years, 8 months and 28 days. We have been in this powerful, strategic military operation for 32 days. And this country has been devastated, no longer being a relevant threat. This is a real investment in the future of your children and grandchildren”, he stated.
Silence on protests
In the statement, Trump did not mention the hundreds of demonstrations that brought together millions of Americansin the country’s main cities, such as New York, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, over the last weekend.
The demonstrators, who demonstrated in dozens of small and medium-sized cities, criticize the government’s involvement in the war and police actions aimed at deporting US immigrants.
It is the third wave of protests in recent monthsIf, according to the North American press, the president is experiencing his worst evaluation since the beginning of his second term, just over a year ago, with only around a third of approval, according to surveys by opinion research institutes.
*Brazil Agency
