Trump Says Iran War ‘Near Completion’ As Markets Tumble, NATO Rift Deepens

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump sought to play down global fears that the war in Iran is spiraling out of control, saying the conflict is “very close” to completion while warning of fresh U.S. strikes within weeks.

In a primetime address from the White House, Trump said key military objectives were “nearing completion” and pledged to “finish the job very fast.”

Yet his remarks failed to calm markets, with oil prices surging and global stocks falling amid concerns the five-week conflict could drag on.

Brent crude jumped nearly 7 percent to above $108 a barrel as fighting kept the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil route — effectively closed, tightening supply and fueling fears of prolonged economic disruption.

Stocks also declined sharply, with Asian markets falling more than 2 percent and U.S. futures — early indicators of how American stock markets are expected to open — pointing lower, as investors worried high energy prices would weigh on global growth.

THREATS OF FURTHER STRIKES

Despite portraying the war as nearing an end, Trump warned the United States would hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks.

“We are on the cusp of ending Iran’s sinister threat,” he said, while insisting Washington had “all the cards.”

He claimed Iranian military capabilities — including its air force, navy, and missile systems — had been largely destroyed.

However, the conflict has continued to intensify, with strikes reported in Tehran and across the region, alongside ongoing Iranian missile attacks.

NATO TENSIONS GROW

The war has also strained ties with U.S. allies.

Trump earlier said he is “absolutely” considering withdrawing the United States from the NATO alliance, citing the refusal of some allies to join the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran.

The remarks have raised concerns about the future of the 77-year-old alliance, already under pressure from the widening war.

RISING HUMAN TOLL

The war, which began on February 28, has caused significant casualties across the Middle East.

Estimates suggest at least 1,900 people have been killed and 20,000 injured in Iran, while more than 1,300 have died in Lebanon, many of them civilians.

In Israel, at least 19 people have been killed and hundreds wounded.

The U.S. military has also suffered losses, with at least 13 service members killed and hundreds more injured.

UNCERTAIN ENDGAME

Despite Trump’s optimistic tone, it remains unclear how or when the conflict will end.

Thousands of U.S. troops remain deployed in the region, and Washington has signaled it could continue “spot strikes” inside Iran if needed.

Analysts say mixed messaging from the administration — including shifting goals around Iran’s nuclear program — has added to uncertainty about the war’s direction.

Authorities and observers warn the situation remains volatile, with risks of further escalation and prolonged economic fallout.

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