Trump Announces Primetime Address as War Enters Day 33
President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime address to the nation tonight at 9 PM ET, promising what the White House called “an important update on Iran.” The announcement comes after Trump told reporters on Tuesday that Operation Epic Fury could wind down “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three” — sending shockwaves through global markets and raising immediate questions about what comes next.
“We’ll be leaving very soon,” the president said from the Oval Office on Tuesday, adding that Iran “doesn’t have to make a deal” for the United States to end its military campaign.
The remarks represent the most concrete timeline Trump has given since U.S. and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, following the collapse of Geneva peace talks and months of escalating tensions.
Iranian Cruise Missile Strikes Oil Tanker in Qatari Waters
Even as Trump signals a potential exit, the war continues to rage across the Persian Gulf.
Early Wednesday morning, Qatar’s Defense Ministry confirmed that Iran fired three cruise missiles at the country. Qatar’s air defenses intercepted two of them — but the third slammed into the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker leased to state-owned QatarEnergy, in Qatari territorial waters.
The Qatari government said there were no casualties and no environmental damage, with the missile striking above the waterline. But the attack underscores just how dangerous the shipping lanes of the Persian Gulf have become — and why energy markets remain on edge.
Since the start of the conflict, there have been at least seven seafarer deaths and more than a dozen commercial vessels attacked near Iranian waters and across the Gulf, according to CNN.
Kuwait Airport Ablaze, Bahrain Hit, Tehran Rocked by Explosions
The tanker strike was far from the only escalation on Day 33.
Kuwait: Iranian drones struck fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport, sparking a massive blaze visible for miles. Kuwaiti authorities said there were no casualties, but the airport — a critical hub for the region — was thrown into chaos.
Bahrain: Authorities reported a fire at an undisclosed industrial facility caused by an Iranian attack, the latest in a series of strikes targeting Gulf state infrastructure.
UAE: The UAE air defenses continue to be tested. According to the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) tracker, since the start of the conflict the Emirates have intercepted 433 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 1,977 UAVs launched from Iran. On March 31 alone, UAE forces engaged 8 ballistic missiles, 4 cruise missiles, and 36 drones.
The UAE also announced a sweeping new policy: Iranian nationals are no longer allowed to enter or transit through the country — an extraordinary diplomatic escalation reflecting the depth of Gulf anger toward Tehran.
Tehran: Explosions rocked multiple areas of the Iranian capital overnight as U.S.-Israeli airstrikes continued. Iran’s largest passenger port terminal, Shahid Haghani Port, was hit but officials reported no casualties. Iranian state TV showed pro-government rallies and flag-waving convoys in several cities, marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution — a show of defiance even as the country’s infrastructure crumbles.
Israel Targeted Again — Child Wounded by Iranian Missile Fragments
Iran continued to fire missiles at Israel on Wednesday, with the IDF reporting multiple salvos targeting central Israel. Most were intercepted, but missile fragments wounded a child in one incident — a grim reminder that the conflict’s toll extends far beyond the Persian Gulf.
The Times of Israel reported that an 11-year-old girl was critically wounded by Iranian cluster bomb fragments, while emergency responders were deployed to impact sites across the country.
Markets Surge on Hopes of War’s End
Trump’s “leaving very soon” comments triggered a dramatic market response:
- Oil prices tumbled more than 3% on Wednesday, reversing earlier gains, as traders bet the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon.
- Asian stocks surged — MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 4.7%, its biggest single-day gain since November 2022.
- U.S. gas prices remain above $4 per gallon nationally for the first time since 2022, a political headache for Trump and Republicans ahead of the November midterms.
Brent crude has surged 51% since the start of March, according to The Guardian — the largest monthly oil price increase in modern history. The Strait of Hormuz closure has removed an estimated 4.5-5 million barrels per day from global supply, roughly 5% of the world’s oil.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. should work to exit the Iran war quickly.
Rubio: ‘We Can See the Finish Line’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced Trump’s messaging, telling Fox News’ Hannity that Washington could “see the finish line” and that there was potential for “a direct meeting at some point” with Iranian leadership.
“It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Rubio said.
Rubio also told Al Jazeera that communication between Tehran and Washington is ongoing, mostly through intermediaries, and that U.S. war objectives would be achieved in “weeks, not months.”
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threw cold water on the optimism, saying he had “no faith” in talks with the United States.
Trump Floats Leaving NATO Over Allied Reluctance
In one of the most explosive developments of the day, Trump said he is “strongly considering” pulling the United States out of NATO — citing European allies’ reluctance to support Operation Epic Fury.
Trump directed particular ire at countries that refused to grant U.S. military access. Italy and Spain have blocked American forces from using their territory for Iran operations, creating what Pentagon officials have privately called a “coalition fracture.”
“Go get your own oil,” Trump told allied nations struggling with energy shortages caused by the Hormuz closure. The comment drew immediate pushback from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said Britain should align more closely with European allies on security and economy given the “global instability” caused by the conflict.
IRGC Threatens 18 US Tech Companies
In a chilling escalation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened 18 major U.S. technology companies — including Apple, Google, NVIDIA, Tesla, and Boeing — warning of retaliation “if the U.S. continues targeted assassinations of Iranian leaders beginning on April 1.”
The threat, which was published by the IRGC’s intelligence apparatus, did not specify what form retaliation would take. U.S. cybersecurity officials are reportedly treating it as a credible warning.
What to Watch Tonight
All eyes are on 9 PM ET tonight when Trump delivers his address to the nation. Key questions:
- Will Trump announce a formal ceasefire or withdrawal timeline?
- Has back-channel diplomacy produced a framework deal?
- What happens to the Strait of Hormuz — and global oil supplies?
- Will the U.S. demand Iran accept the 15-point ceasefire framework, or walk away regardless?
The war has now lasted 33 days, killed thousands, displaced millions, and caused the worst energy crisis since the 1973 oil embargo. Tonight’s address could mark the beginning of the end — or signal yet another escalation in a conflict that has defied every prediction.
This is a developing story. We will update this article following the president’s address tonight.