April 1, 2026 — As Operation Epic Fury enters its 33rd day, the Iran conflict is accelerating on every front simultaneously. President Trump is preparing a rare primetime national address tonight at 9 PM ET. Iran launched its largest missile barrage against Israel in weeks — timed to hit during the first night of Passover. An Iranian drone set Kuwait International Airport ablaze. And Britain announced it will host 35 nations — without the United States — to find a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most consequential days of the war so far.
Trump to Deliver National Address on Operation Epic Fury Tonight
The White House confirmed Wednesday that President Donald Trump will address the nation at 9 PM Eastern to provide what press secretary Karoline Leavitt called “an important update” on the Iran war.
The speech comes after Trump told reporters Tuesday that U.S. forces would wrap up military operations in Iran in “two to three weeks,” claiming the campaign had achieved its primary objective of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program. He also declared on Truth Social that Iran’s “new regime president” had asked for a ceasefire — a claim Tehran immediately and forcefully denied.
“This is false and baseless,” a senior Iranian official told reporters, calling Trump’s claim a propaganda move aimed at a domestic audience.
According to the White House fact sheet released ahead of the speech, Trump is expected to outline “decisive successes” of Operation Epic Fury, including the systematic destruction of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and missile production facilities. The administration claims the operation is “two weeks ahead of schedule.”
However, critics — including voices within Trump’s own party — warn that declaring victory while Iran continues to launch missiles and block global oil shipments is premature at best.
Iran Fires Biggest Missile Barrage at Israel — On Passover Eve
In a move that stunned the region, Iran launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles at central Israel just hours before the start of Passover on Wednesday evening. Sirens wailed across Tel Aviv and surrounding areas as millions of Israelis — many gathered for Seder dinners — rushed to bomb shelters.
Israeli defense systems intercepted most of the incoming projectiles, but the barrage was not entirely stopped. Damage was reported in Rosh HaAyin, east of Tel Aviv, and an 11-year-old girl was critically injured by what authorities identified as an Iranian cluster munition.
Hezbollah simultaneously launched rockets from Lebanon, creating a coordinated two-front assault that stretched Israel’s missile defense network to its limits. The IDF confirmed that while some missiles were intercepted, others were allowed to strike open areas “according to protocol.”
The timing — deliberately targeting the Jewish holiday of Passover — drew immediate international condemnation. Israeli officials called it “a despicable escalation” and vowed a powerful response.
Iranian Drone Strike Sets Kuwait Airport Ablaze
In another dramatic escalation, an Iranian drone struck fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday, sparking a massive fire that forced the complete shutdown of the aviation hub.
Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA reported no casualties from the blaze, but the damage compounds weeks of Iranian attacks that have already disabled radar systems, damaged Terminal 1, and halted all commercial operations at one of the Gulf’s busiest airports.
As of midday Wednesday, flight tracking websites showed zero arrivals or departures from Kuwait International — with pages displaying “Unfortunately, we cannot find a flight.”
The Kuwait government called the attack “brazen” and demanded international action. This latest strike is part of Iran’s broader strategy of targeting Gulf state infrastructure — including ports, refineries, and airports — in retaliation for those nations hosting U.S. military assets.
Since the war began, UAE air defenses alone have engaged 433 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and nearly 2,000 drones launched from Iran, according to figures compiled by the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) organization.
UK Rallies 35 Nations — Without the U.S. — to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
In a striking diplomatic development, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will host a virtual summit Thursday involving 35 nations to coordinate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — the critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes daily.
The most notable absence from the guest list: the United States.
The summit comes after Trump told allies to “get your own oil” and suggested the U.S. might end military operations against Iran without securing the reopening of the strait — a prospect that has alarmed European and Asian economies dependent on Gulf oil shipments.
“I do have to level with people on this — this will not be easy,” Starmer told reporters at Downing Street. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands are among the confirmed participants.
The move represents a rare instance of America’s closest ally organizing a major international security initiative explicitly without Washington’s participation, underscoring growing frustration with Trump’s unilateral approach to ending the conflict.
Oil prices reflected the anxiety. U.S. crude settled above $100 per barrel on Monday for the first time since July 2022, and the average American gas price has climbed to $3.99 according to AAA.
Vance Emerges as Key Backchannel Diplomat
Behind the scenes, Vice President JD Vance is playing an increasingly central role in efforts to find an off-ramp from the conflict. Reuters reported Wednesday that Vance communicated with Pakistani intermediaries about the Iran conflict as recently as Tuesday — a sign of his expanding influence within Trump’s inner circle.
Pakistan has emerged as a critical go-between, facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran. Two Iranian officials told the New York Times that a senior Iranian diplomat, Kamal Kharazi, had been overseeing engagement with Pakistan for a possible meeting between Iranian officials and Vance.
However, those same officials suggested that recent U.S. targeting of Kharazi’s associates was being viewed in Tehran as a deliberate attempt to derail the diplomatic track — raising the question of whether Washington’s left hand knows what the right is doing.
NATO Tensions Boil Over
Adding yet another layer of volatility, Trump again threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, describing the alliance as a “paper tiger” and criticizing member nations for their lack of military support in the Iran campaign.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is tentatively scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29 — where he’ll face lawmakers’ questions about the war for the first time since it began on February 28.
Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian published an open letter to the American people, writing that Iran harbors “no enmity” toward Americans and questioning whether the war truly serves “America First” priorities. It was a calculated rhetorical move, aimed at exploiting growing war weariness in the U.S.
The Big Picture: What Happens Next
Day 33 of the Iran war is defined by a fundamental contradiction: Trump is signaling the war is nearly over, while on the ground, Iran is launching its most aggressive attacks yet.
Tonight’s national address will be closely watched for any concrete timeline on withdrawal, conditions for a ceasefire, and — critically — whether Trump addresses the Strait of Hormuz crisis that is sending fuel prices skyward worldwide.
Markets are cautiously optimistic. Asian stock benchmarks jumped Wednesday following a strong U.S. rally, driven by administration comments about ending the war soon. But experts warn that “mission creep” remains a real danger, especially as Israel expands operations into Lebanon and Iran shows no signs of backing down.
As Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group put it: what began as a “war of choice” has transformed into a “war of necessity” — and getting out may prove far harder than getting in.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates following President Trump’s national address tonight at 9 PM ET.