Day 34 of Operation Epic Fury brought a dramatic escalation Thursday as Iran launched a new wave of ballistic missiles at Israel and multiple Gulf Arab states — just hours after President Donald Trump told the nation the war was nearly over. The defiant strikes underscored Tehran’s insistence that it remains a potent military force, even as the United States pushes for a ceasefire and the UN Security Council prepares a historic vote on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Defiant Response to Trump’s Primetime Address
The timing was unmistakable. As President Trump wrapped up his first primetime address since launching Operation Epic Fury on February 28, explosions echoed across the Middle East. Sirens wailed in Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet — immediately after the president finished speaking. Minutes later, Israel’s military confirmed it was scrambling to intercept incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.
The attacks had actually begun even before Trump took to the podium. Air defense systems in Dubai were already working to intercept an Iranian missile barrage as the president declared that America’s “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”
Iran’s military was blunt in its response. Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Tehran’s armed forces, insisted Thursday that Iran maintains hidden stockpiles of weapons and production facilities that U.S. and Israeli forces haven’t touched. “The centers you think you have targeted are insignificant, and our strategic military productions take place in locations of which you have no knowledge and will never reach,” he warned.
The statement was a direct rebuttal to Trump, who had told Americans that “one of the most powerful countries” is “really no longer a threat.”
What Trump Actually Said — And What He Didn’t
In his primetime speech from the White House on Wednesday evening, Trump painted a picture of a military campaign that has achieved its major goals. He pointed to the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities, the dismantling of key military infrastructure, and what he called “tremendous progress our warriors have made.”
But the address was riddled with contradictions that analysts were quick to flag. While declaring the war was winding down, Trump simultaneously threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages” if it continued its retaliatory attacks. He claimed the threat had been neutralized while also escalating his rhetoric.
Perhaps most notably, Trump offered no clear timeline for ending the fighting. He didn’t mention the 15-point ceasefire plan the U.S. has reportedly presented to Iran. And he conspicuously avoided his own April 6 deadline — just four days away — for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face “severe retaliation.”
French President Emmanuel Macron was among the first Western leaders to criticize the speech, pointing to what he called “shifting U.S. goals” in the conflict. The remarks highlighted growing frustration among European allies over the war’s direction.
The Human Cost: Day 34 by the Numbers
Five weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the toll continues to mount:
- Iran: More than 1,900 killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes
- Israel: At least 19 dead from Iranian missile and rocket attacks
- United States: 13 service members killed, hundreds wounded
- Gulf States: More than two dozen killed across Bahrain, UAE, and other nations
- Lebanon: Over 1,200 killed and more than 1 million displaced as Israel wages a ground invasion against Hezbollah
- West Bank: Additional casualties reported amid heightened tensions
Attacks continued across Iran on Thursday, with strikes reported in multiple cities. A top Iranian official was reported injured in a strike on Tehran, according to The Guardian, though details remained scarce.
The Strait of Hormuz: Global Energy’s Chokepoint
While missiles dominate headlines, Iran’s most devastating weapon may be its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean carries roughly 20% of all globally traded oil in peacetime — and Iran has effectively shut it down.
Iranian attacks on some two dozen commercial vessels, combined with the threat of mines and drone strikes, have halted nearly all shipping traffic through the strait. The resulting energy crisis has sent oil prices surging past $108 per barrel, rattled global stock markets, and sparked fuel shortages and panic buying across Asia, Africa, and beyond.
The Philippines has already declared a state of emergency due to fuel shortages. Countries like Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Vietnam face similar crises. Even nations with stronger reserves like Australia and India are battling panic buying — a crisis experts say is “almost entirely man-made.”
Trump’s response? He told the world’s oil-dependent nations to “build some delayed courage” and go “take it” — while insisting it’s not America’s job to reopen the strait.
UN Security Council Vote and the Hormuz Coalition
The diplomatic machinery is now accelerating. The UN Security Council convened Thursday to vote on a resolution drafted by Bahrain and backed by Gulf states that would authorize countries to use military force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members. But China has already signaled opposition to authorizing force, creating a significant obstacle. A vote is now expected as early as Friday.
Separately, the United Kingdom has stepped up to host talks among 35 nations — including all G7 industrialized democracies except the United States — about “viable diplomatic and political measures” to resume shipping. The coalition includes the UAE, Bahrain, and echoes the “coalition of the willing” model used in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is leading the effort, which serves a dual purpose: addressing the energy crisis and demonstrating to Washington that Europe can shoulder its own security burdens — a response to Trump’s frequent criticism and his recent threats to pull the U.S. out of NATO.
Austria’s Quiet Defiance and NATO Tensions
In a lesser-reported but significant development, Austrian officials confirmed Thursday that they have been denying American combat aircraft permission to fly over their country since the start of the war. The neutral nation’s stance adds to growing friction within the Western alliance.
Trump has openly questioned the value of NATO during the conflict, criticizing allies for what he called “lackluster military support” and suggesting he would consider having the U.S. leave the alliance entirely. The remarks sent shockwaves through European capitals already nervous about the war’s expanding scope.
What Comes Next: The April 6 Deadline
All eyes are now on Trump’s self-imposed April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. With Tehran showing no signs of backing down — and actively launching new missile strikes — the question is whether the president will follow through on his threat of severe retaliation or quietly let the deadline pass.
Iran has rejected the U.S.-presented 15-point ceasefire plan, and its military continues to insist it has the capacity and will to keep fighting. Inside Iran, anti-regime media reports suggest an “unprecedented crisis” is emerging within the inner circle of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, with some associates reportedly seeking changes in leadership.
For now, the war grinds on. The missiles keep flying. Oil prices keep climbing. And the gap between Trump’s declaration of victory and the reality on the ground grows wider by the day.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, BBC, Military.com, Institute for the Study of War