Iran responds to Trump address with missile attacks on Israel, Gulf states
by Ashleigh Fields - 04/02/26 8:22 AM ET
Iran responded to President Trump’s Wednesday evening address with a barrage of attacks on Israel and other Gulf states, showcasing its defiance amid reports of ceasefire negotiations.
“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,” Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, an Iranian military spokesperson, said early Thursday in a statement, according to The Associated Press.
Zolfaghari’s remarks follow Trump’s suggestion that the Middle East conflict could soon end as U.S. “core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”
“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” the president told the American public. “We’re getting very close.”
Within the hour of his speech ending, Iran launched missile attacks on Israel and Bahrain, after firing missiles at Dubai during the remarks. Those attacks continued early Thursday morning, the AP reported. Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting Iranian missiles.
On Wednesday, Iran struck a QatarEnergy oil tanker with a crew of 21 individuals and hit Kuwait’s airport.
Iran’s targeting of Gulf states over the past month has badly hurt its energy and tourism sectors. While the regional powers have maintained public neutrality to avoid further provoking Iran, they are reportedly encouraging Trump to finish the job and ensure Tehran does not pose a continued threat.
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https://thehill.com/policy/international/5812466-iran-trump-address-response-israel-gulf-state-strikes/