‘We have all the cards’: Trump says US war on Iran ‘nearing completion’

President says ‘little journey’ to Iran close to achieving US aims but offers scant details on plan to wind down conflict

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Donald Trump used a primetime address to the nation on Wednesday evening to declare the month-long war in Iran a success “nearing completion”, despite a spiraling conflict that has caused economic turmoil across the globe, fractured transatlantic alliances and eroded the president’s approval ratings.

In remarks from the White House, Trump argued that the US’s “little journey” to Iran had nearly accomplished “all of America’s military objectives”, but offered little clarity on how he planned to wind down the conflict over the next “two to three weeks”.