Live updates: Trump says US will hit them "very hard" as Iran warns against a ground invasion
President Donald Trump says U.S. forces will intensify strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks, claiming operations have already met or exceeded expectations. He warned the campaign would hit the country "very hard," signaling more attacks in the near future.
Trump did not address potential negotiations or revisit his April 6 deadline tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. He previously threatened to target Iran's energy infrastructure if access to the waterway isn't restored.
He also offered no clear strategy for easy supply disruptions or stabilizing rising energy cost, and made no mention fo deploying U.S. ground troops or working with NATO.
Markets reacted quickly. Oil prices surged more than 6%, with Brent crude topping $106 per barrel and U.S. crude climbing above $104. Gas prices in the U.S. hae now surpassed $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, raising concerns about broader impacts on consumer goods.
Smoke rises after explosions struck the northeastern, western, and central areas amid Israeli attacks in Tehran, Iran on April 01, 2026. (Photo by Tolga Akbaba/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Here is the latest from Thursday:
Iran warns no one will survive in ground invasion
6:35 a.m. ET: Iran's army chief sent a warning in the event of a U.S. ground invasion.
Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami spoke on Iranian state television saying, "not a single person" will survive if the U.S. military enters the Islamic Republic.
"The shadow of war must be lifted from our country and there must be security for everyone, because it is not possible for places to be safe and our people to be unsafe," he added.
Trump addresses the nation
Trump on Wednesday delivered a prime time address to the nation regarding Operation Epic Fury and the war in Iran.
Trump spent much of his time repeating some of the same things he said in recent weeks.
The president stressed that U.S. military forces will "finish the job" in Iran soon and that "core strategic objectives are nearing completion."
What they're saying:
"For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. But in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes," Trump said. "The situation has been going on for 47 years and should’ve been handled long before I arrived in office," he said.
Big picture view:
Trump has been under growing pressure to end the war that has been pushing up the cost of gasoline, food and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, is up more than 40% since the start of the war.
Polling, meanwhile, shows many Americans feel the U.S. military has gone too far in Iran — even as more American troops move into the region for a possible ground offensive.
War in Iran
The backstory:
The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Feb. 28.
Iran’s supreme leader, as well as a dozen other leaders, were killed in a matter of days following the surprise attack.
By the numbers:
Thousands of U.S. service members have been sent to the Middle East and 13 have been killed.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from previous reporting by The Associated Press and LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from San Jose and Orlando.