Trump Promises 'Very Powerful' Iran Strikes Within 2-3 Weeks

President Donald Trump told the nation on Wednesday night that the United States would launch "very powerful" strikes against Iran within two to three weeks, ending speculation that an April 6 diplomatic deadline might produce a ceasefire.

"We are going to hit them very hard, very powerfully, and very soon," Trump said from the White House, in a 22-minute address carried live on all major US networks. He did not specify targets but referenced "energy infrastructure and military command centres."

The speech came three weeks into a US military campaign that has already struck Iranian nuclear and military sites. Oil futures surged immediately after the broadcast, with Brent crude climbing 4.2% in after-hours trading to $119.80 a barrel, according to ICE Futures data.

April 6 Deadline Abandoned

Analysts had pointed to April 6 — the date Trump had previously set for "decisive action" against Iranian energy facilities — as a potential inflection point where diplomacy might resume. The Wednesday address appeared to move past that timeline entirely.

"This is no longer a punitive strike. This is a sustained campaign," said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "The two-to-three-week window suggests planning for a significantly larger operation."

European allies responded cautiously. French President Emmanuel Macron called for "restraint and an immediate return to negotiations," according to a statement from the Élysée Palace. Germany's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" by the prospect of further escalation.

Regional Reactions Diverge

Arabic-language media led with Iran's own military response — the largest missile barrage of the conflict — rather than Trump's speech. Al Jazeera Arabic's lead headline read: "Iran launches largest missile salvo at Israel as war enters fourth week." The speech received secondary coverage.

Chinese state media framed the address as confirmation of Washington's inability to end the war quickly. "Trump's own timeline proves this war has no exit strategy," wrote the Global Times in an editorial published within hours of the speech.

Persian-language outlets broadcast the speech alongside commentary from Iranian military officials who called it "psychological warfare." Press TV, Iran's English-language state channel, described the address as "threats from a president who has already failed to achieve military objectives."

Oil Markets React

The prolonged war signal sent energy markets into renewed volatility. The International Energy Agency had already warned earlier Wednesday that April would bring worse supply conditions than March, with Strait of Hormuz disruptions now affecting 18% of global oil transit.

US Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases have totalled 400 million barrels since the conflict began, according to the Department of Energy. An additional 10 million barrel emergency exchange was announced hours before Trump's speech.

"Every week this continues, the reserve cushion gets thinner," said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. "The SPR was not designed for a multi-month war."

Domestic Response

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a War Powers Resolution vote, saying Congress had not authorised "an open-ended military campaign." Senator Tim Kaine, a longtime advocate for congressional war authority, said he would introduce a resolution within 48 hours.

Republican leadership backed the president. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump was "showing the strength the world needs to see" and called Democratic opposition "dangerously naive."

Polling conducted by Reuters/Ipsos before the speech showed 52% of Americans supported military action against Iran, down from 58% in the first week of strikes. Support among independents had dropped 11 points to 44%.

The next scheduled UN Security Council session on the Iran conflict is set for April 7. Russia and China have jointly called for a ceasefire resolution, which the United States is expected to veto.