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.
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.
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Key Headlines
US to hit Iran 'extremely hard' in next few weeks, Trump says
President Donald Trump said that the U.S. is going to hit Iran "extremely hard" over the next two weeks.
He then followed that by saying discussions with Tehran are ongoing.
Trump's nearly 20-minute White House address reiterated much of what the president has been saying since the strikes began, with little new light shed on the operation or a specific timeline for when the war would end.
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.
"And in any event, when this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally, it'll just open up naturally," he claimed.
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.
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.
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