Trump says we're 'blowing up the whole country' if Iran doesn't make deal in 48 hours

Two C-130 aircraft were lost during the operation, an official said.

ByDavid Brennan, Emily Shapiro, Meredith Deliso, Jon Haworth, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: April 6, 2026, 1:24 AM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Watch special coverage on Nightline, "War with Iran," each night on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 01, 2026, 9:23 PM EDT

Trump calls on other countries to 'protect' Strait of Hormuz

Regarding the trade disruptions from the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said he has two suggestions to impacted countries: buy oil from the U.S., and "build up some delayed courage" and "protect" the passageway themselves.

"Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done, so it should be easy," he said in his address.

President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation about the Iran war at the White House in Washington, April 1, 2026.
Alex Brandon/AP

"And in any event, when this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally, it'll just open up naturally," he claimed.

Apr 01, 2026, 9:15 PM EDT

Trump says US objectives in Iran 'nearing completion'

While addressing the nation from the White House, President Donald Trump said the U.S.' "core strategic objectives" in Iran are "nearing completion."

"We are going to finish the job. And we're going to finish it very fast. We're getting very close," he said.

President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation about the Iran war at the White House in Washington, April 1, 2026.
Alex Brandon/via Reuters
Apr 01, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT

Trump, NATO chief to meet at White House next week

President Donald Trump will meet with NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House next week, a White House official confirmed.

The meeting comes as Trump's criticism of the alliance has reached a fever pitch. Earlier Wednesday, the president said in a phone interview with Reuters that he is "absolutely" considering trying to withdraw the U.S. from NATO.

The president's current frustration stems from European nations who did not respond to his calls for help in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in Iran.

PHOTO: BELGIUM-NATO-DIPLOMACY
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte gives a press conference about NATO's general annual report in Brussels on March 26, 2026.
Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

Trump and Rutte have enjoyed a warm relationship in the past. Rutte visited the White House in 2025, shortly after Trump was sworn back into office and the leaders showered each other in praise.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Apr 01, 2026, 5:08 PM EDT

Trump briefed on ground operations, no decision made: Source

President Donald Trump was recently briefed on a variety of ground troop options that included the potential seizure of Iran's highly enriched uranium and Kharg Island, a source familiar with the briefing told ABC News.

No final decision about whether to choose to use ground forces has been made by President Trump, the source said.

President Donald J Trump gives remarks during an executive order signing event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, March 31, 2026.
Alex Brandon/AP

Seizing the highly enriched uranium would involve a special operations force, likely a large force, as ABC News has previously reported.

Any forces that might be involved in seizing the uranium would also have undergone specialized and regular training for such a mission.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

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