Heraldo de Madrid - Trump says Iran war almost over, warns of weeks more heavy strikes

Speaking in his first national address since the war began on February 28, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the offensive was worth the effort.

"Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," Trump said from the White House.

The war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he said, cautioning however that "we are going to hit them, extremely hard, over the next two to three weeks."

He also assured regional allies -- Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain -- battered by Iranian drone and missile attacks, that the United States "will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form."

Trump indicated that talks may be possible with Iran's new leadership, which he described as "less radical and much more reasonable" than its predecessor, signalling he is pursuing some form of deal to end the conflict.

But he warned that if none was reached, Washington had "our eyes on key targets including the country's electric generating plants."

The speech did little to calm energy markets, with oil prices surging Thursday as Trump called on other nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

One-fifth of global oil normally passes through the narrow waterway, and its effective closure has sent energy prices soaring and destabilized the world economy.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed Wednesday to keep it shut to the country's "enemies."

- 'Irrational' -

Iran on Thursday dismissed Washington's ceasefire overtures, describing US demands to end the conflict as "maximalist and irrational."

"Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the ISNA news agency.

Trump had claimed earlier Wednesday that Iran's president had sought a ceasefire, but said the Islamic republic must first reopen Hormuz -- which he said in his address would happen "naturally" once the conflict ended.

The speech came as Trump faces plunging approval ratings, economic jitters and spiralling diplomatic fallout from a war that began when the United States and Israel launched a massive surprise airstrike campaign on Iran, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Hours before Trump's address, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian asked the American people whether the conflict was truly putting "America First," accusing Washington of war crimes and of being influenced by Israel.

In an open letter posted on social media, he also said ordinary Americans were not Iran's enemy, "even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures."

- Passover -

Tehran announced Wednesday evening another barrage of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases in the Gulf, striking Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Eilat as well as US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.

Israel's military said early Thursday its air defences were operating to intercept the incoming fire.

As Israel prepared for the Passover holiday, which began at sunset Wednesday, air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly in the Tel Aviv area.

Emergency services said an Iranian missile attack Wednesday morning wounded 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl.

The Revolutionary Guards also confirmed hitting an oil tanker in the Gulf they said belonged to Israel; a British maritime security agency said the vessel was struck off Qatar, reporting damage but no casualties.

- 'Cruel and ruthless' -

An AFP journalist reported huge explosions in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon and earlier strikes near the former US embassy.

Iranian media said an airport in Isfahan province and steel complexes elsewhere in the country had been damaged.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei -- not seen publicly since his father was killed in an airstrike on the war's first day -- said "the cruel and ruthless American and Zionist enemy knows no human, moral or vital limits."

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran for the funeral of the Guards' naval commander, killed in an Israeli airstrike. "We will resist until the end," said Moussa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old mourner.

In Lebanon, seven people were killed in strikes around south Beirut, with the Israeli military saying it had struck a senior Hezbollah commander.

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli attacks had killed more than 1,300 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.

Across the Gulf, strikes caused a large fire at Kuwait's international airport, Bahrain reported a blaze at a business facility, and Saudi Arabia said several drones were intercepted. A Bangladeshi national was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted drone in the United Arab Emirates.

burs-arp/mlm

D.Prieto--HdM