Trump Escalates Pressure on Iran as U.S. Objectives Near Completion

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that U.S. military operations against Iran have successfully degraded the country's missile, drone, and naval capabilities. Describing the military mission's core strategic objectives as 'nearing completion,' the President indicated that the U.S. would continue to strike Iranian assets 'extremely hard' over the next two to three weeks. Recent operations have specifically targeted missile-manufacturing facilities as part of an effort to return Iran's military capacity to the 'stone ages.' On the diplomatic front, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a willingness to end the ongoing conflict during a call with the European Council president. According to Iranian state media, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran possesses the 'necessary will' for a resolution, provided that security guarantees are established to prevent future U.S. aggression. However, President Trump has tied any future negotiations to the status of international shipping lanes. He stated that the U.S. will not consider diplomatic overtures until the Strait of Hormuz is 'open, free, and clear' by an April 6 deadline. Trump warned that failure to reopen the strait would result in the 'obliteration' of Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and water desalination facilities. Meanwhile, Tehran has expanded its rhetoric to include threats against U.S. technology firms.