President Donald Trump said the war in Iran is “very close” to completion, even as he signaled strikes could escalate in the near term.  

Trump in a rare prime-time address on Wednesday cast the war as a success, saying the operation had nearly achieved its military goals, including destroying Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, air force, navy and industrial base. He said those steps would prevent Tehran’s proxies from destabilizing the region and cut off the country’s path to nuclear weapons.

“Tonight I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said from the White House in a roughly 20-minute speech. “We are going to finish the job. and we’re going to finish it very fast, we’re getting very close.”

The speech came as the president is grasping for an off-ramp in a conflict that has quickly slipped out of control. 

For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Radio host Doug Krizner speaks with Bloomberg This Weekend co-host Christina Ruffini and Bloomberg White House and Washington correspondent Jeff Mason.

President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;said the war in Iran is &ldquo;very close&rdquo; to completion, even as he signaled strikes could escalate in the near term. &nbsp; Trump in a rare prime-time address on Wednesday cast the war as a success, saying the operation had nearly achieved its military goals, including destroying Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, air force, navy and industrial base. He said those steps would prevent Tehran&rsquo;s proxies from destabilizing the region and cut off the country&rsquo;s path to nuclear weapons. &ldquo;Tonight I&rsquo;m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,&rdquo; Trump said from the White House in a roughly 20-minute speech. &ldquo;We are going to finish the job. and we&rsquo;re going to finish it very fast, we&rsquo;re getting very close.&rdquo; The speech came as the president is grasping for an off-ramp in a conflict that has quickly slipped out of control.&nbsp; For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg Radio host Doug Krizner speaks with Bloomberg This Weekend co-host Christina Ruffini and Bloomberg White House and Washington correspondent Jeff Mason.

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Listen for today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. Each morning, hosts Nathan Hager and Karen Moskow bring you the latest headlines on US politics, foreign relations, financial markets and global economics. The show is recorded at 5AM ET each weekday, so you get the freshest reporting on the stories that matter. Get informed from Bloomberg's 3,000 journalists and analysts. Listen and subscribe to Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition.

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Instant Reaction: Trump Threatens to Escalate Iran War in Primetime Speech

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