Trump says Iran ‘no longer a threat,’ US will keep hitting country ‘very hard’ in next phase

Iraq's economy, which is heavily dependent on oil, has been hit hard by the global energy crisis triggered by the war on Iran.

Iraq relies on oil revenues for about 90% of its budget, with most of it exported through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under a blockade since the war began in late February.

The conflict has also prompted a significant reduction in the volume of imported goods reaching southern Iraq’s ports, and stopped traffic at Iraq's border with Iran.

Iraq, unlike other countries in the Middle East, hosts both entrenched Iran-aligned forces and significant U.S. interests, meaning it is exposed to attacks from both sides of the conflict.

Officials in Iran have offered assurances that Iraqi crude oil can safely move through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bassem Abdul Karim, the head of Iraq’s Basra Oil Company. But since Iraq does not have its own tanker fleet and relies on chartered vessels, shipments are dependent on whether tanker owners are willing to accept the increased risks, and most are not.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Pakistani government on Thursday announced that fuel prices would see significant increases amid the energy crisis linked to the ongoing war on Iran.

The price of petrol would surge by 42.7% to 458.40 rupees, or $1.66, per liter and the price of diesel would be raised by 54.9% to 520.35 rupees, or $1.88, per liter.

"It was inevitable to raise the prices due to the international market prices going out of control after the US-Iran war," Pakistan's petroleum minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, said at a news conference.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the war has hit Pakistan's economy hard and that he is attempting to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Bangladesh announced a series of measures to address the energy crisis linked to the war on Iran, including cutting office hours and closing malls and shops early beginning on Friday.

Government office hours will be cut to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while malls and shops must close by 6 p.m. to deal with the energy crisis.

Officials also ordered 30% spending cuts for fuel and power at government offices, suspended some staff training and stopped purchases of new vehicles, ships and aircraft.

Additionally, decorative lighting will not be allowed for celebrations.

Bangladesh is searching for alternative fuel sources and $2.5 billion in external financing for imports, which make up 95% of its fuel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen encouraged motorists heading out for a long weekend during the Easter holiday to refuel in cities, as most of the country's fuel shortages are in rural areas.

"For those Australians planning a road trip this weekend, given our shortages are predominantly in rural and regional Australia, it makes sense to fill up in the city to help the country if you can," Bowen said on Friday.

Of the 2,400 gas stations in Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales, 182 had run out of diesel by Friday.

In the country's second-most populous state, Victoria, 76 gas stations were out of diesel. Additionally, Queensland had 75 stations without diesel, Western Australia had 37, South Australia had 28 and Tasmania had seven.

Australia’s government said it is focusing on delivering fuel to farmers for planting crops. The government has also blamed regional shortages on panic buying and distribution problems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

An Iranian diplomat claimed that the country was drafting a proposal to "monitor" the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, after shipping and production disruptions due to Iran's blockade of the strait.

Kazem Gharibabadi described the proposal as "intended to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships passing through this route," according to the state-run news agency IRNA.

Iran's attacks on shipping in the region and its reported demands for as much as $2 million for passage through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf have created a chokehold on the route.

It is unclear what the proposal would entail.

"Naturally, when we face an act of aggression, navigation encounters serious problems, and this is the result of the aggressive act," Gharibabadi said. "We are currently at war and cannot expect pre-war rules to govern wartime conditions."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Australia will not undertake offensive operations against Iran or deploy ground troops, instead backing efforts to de-escalate tensions after joining more than 40 countries in discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Thursday.

“Iran is deliberately inflicting economic harm on communities worldwide, including in the Indo-Pacific, with the burden falling most heavily on the most vulnerable,” Wong said in a post on X.

“Australia has joined its partners in condemning the Iranian regime’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz," she said.

Iran’s biggest bridge near Tehran crashed down in a stunning scene captured on camera following reports of U.S. airstrikes, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, as he pressed the regime to make a deal before tensions escalate further.

The B1 highway bridge, a key link between Iran’s capital and the western city of Karaj, is considered the tallest in the Middle East and was only inaugurated earlier this year.

Iranian state TV reportedly warned of potential retaliation, claiming the state's military has identified multiple bridges in American-allied Middle East nations as targets, according to Iran International.

Trump posted a video on social media capturing a massive plume of smoke and debris after the bridge’s apparent collapse.

"The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The strike on the bridge was aimed at cutting drone and missile supply lines to Iranian firing units targeting U.S. and Israeli forces, Middle East outlet i24NEWS reported, citing sources.

Iranian state TV also said the bridge was hit twice, roughly an hour apart, resulting in civilian casualties, Fars News reported.

"A few minutes ago, the American-Zionist enemy once again targeted the B1 bridge in Karaj," the broadcast said, noting that the first strike killed two civilians.

Fars News also reported that other areas of Karaj were struck.

The outlet reported that Iran is considering plans to rebuild the bridge with the help of its engineers and experts.

In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly identified several bridges in American-allied nations across the Middle East as potential targets, including infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and the Jordan-West Bank region.

This is an excerpt from a report by Bonny Chu.

President Donald Trump said Israel will follow his direction for the remainder of the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran and would halt its attacks only when he decides to end the conflict.

“They’ll do what I tell them,” Trump told Time magazine in an interview Thursday.

“They’ve been a good team player. They’ll stop when I stop,” he added, before qualifying that Israel would respond if provoked: “They’ll stop unless they’re provoked, in which case they’ll have no choice—but they’ll stop when I stop.”

Trump also described Iran as “very tough” for resisting pressure to make concessions in negotiations aimed at ending the war.

“They’re able to withstand tremendous pain, so I respect them for that,” he told the oulet adding, “The fact is, I think they’re better negotiators than they are fighters.”

The remarks come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains closely aligned with Trump on Iran policy, reflecting the partnership between the two leaders while maintaining a joint hard-line stance toward Tehran.

Dr. Ehud Eilam, a former analyst at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, told Fox News Digital that collaboration between Israel and the U.S. remains strong.

“The joint and highly successful U.S.-Israeli effort severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities, and with it its ability to threaten others,” Eilam said.

“There has been very close and effective coordination between the two militaries in sharing intelligence, planning strikes and logistics, so all that has enabled them to maximize their efforts while avoiding misunderstandings, waste of resources and above all, preventing risks to their troops.”

“The IAF (Israeli Air Force) relies on U.S. aircraft, ammunition and the IAF has trained many times with the U.S. military over the years.”

“This background makes it easier to coordinate between them during the current confrontation.”

“There is also a close and effective U.S.-Israeli coordination in air defense, in shooting down Iranian drones and missiles.” Eilam added.

The Strait of Hormuz is open to Russian commercial vessels, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Thursday.

“It is open for us,” Ushakov stated in remarks to Russia’s state TV channel Vesti, according to the Interfax news agency, via Reuters.

His comments followed a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which the two discussed navigation in the strategic waterway, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has effectively halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, contributing to rising global energy prices.

Russia, China, and France are pushing back against efforts by Middle Eastern countries to secure U.N. authorization for military force against Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to The New York Times.

The three nations oppose language allowing force in a draft resolution backed by Bahrain and Gulf Arab states, with a vote expected Friday.

Diplomats say divisions also persist among non-permanent Security Council members.

The draft—now in its fourth revision after weeks of negotiations—is stalled over wording that would allow countries to use “all necessary means” to protect shipping through the strait, the outlet said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem that he would not live to see the “very heavy price” Israel plans to exact for attacks carried out during Passover, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

Katz said Qassem would end up “at the bottom of hell” alongside other eliminated leaders of Iranian-backed groups.

“I have a clear message to Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of the Hezbollah terrorist organization: You and your friends will pay a very heavy price for the increased shooting at Israeli citizens while they are sitting down to celebrate the Seder Night,” Katz said in a video message.

You will not be able to see the heavy price, because you will be at the bottom of hell together with Nasrallah, Khamenei, Sinwar, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil,” Katz continued, adding that “the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which you now head, and its supporters in Lebanon will pay the heaviest prices."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Iranian soccer officials in Turkey after the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on Feb. 28, amid uncertainty over Iran playing in the 2026 World Cup.

After qualifying in March 2025, Iranian officials have suggested the team may be unable to play, face travel restrictions to the U.S., or need matches to be moved to Mexico.

However, the Iranian federation’s statement after Thursday’s meeting did not mention relocating games, The Associated Press reported.

Infantino offered FIFA’s support to help the team prepare, though Iran’s domestic league — where most national players compete — has been suspended during the conflict.

Organizers in Arizona say preparations, including security planning, are continuing on schedule.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is preparing to rejoin U.S. military operations in the Middle East after several days of repairs following a fire, according to reports.

The Navy’s largest aircraft carrier spent five days in Croatia undergoing repairs and resupply after the fire broke out in a laundry unit. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

According to Wall Street Journal, the Navy said the carrier is now heading back to the region and is “poised for full mission tasking.”

The Gerald R. Ford had left the Red Sea and traveled to Crete for refueling and repairs before continuing on to Croatia on March 28.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said two sailors were treated for non-life-threatening injuries following the fire.

The carrier and its strike group had been supporting Operation Epic Fury with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group. The USS George H.W. Bush has also been deployed to the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday pushed back on President Donald Trump’s remarks in posts on X, questioning Washington’s strategy and warning attacks on infrastructure would deepen tensions.

His comments followed Trump’s address to the nation Wednesday, in which he said the U.S. would take Iran “back to the stone ages” amid ongoing military operations — a message echoed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who wrote on X: “Back to the Stone Age.”

“There's one striking difference between the present and the Stone Age: there was no oil or gas being pumped in the Middle East back then,” Araghchi wrote on X Thursday, before adding:

“Are POTUS and Americans who put him in office sure that they want to turn back the clock?”

The Iranian foreign minister also responded to a separate post from Trump on Truth Social, in which the president claimed an Iranian bridge had been destroyed in a U.S. airstrike and urged Tehran to “make a deal before it’s too late.”

Trump shared a video of what he described as a strike on the “B-1 bridge,” calling it “the biggest bridge in Iran.” The reported destruction has not been independently confirmed.

In Araghchi’s second X post, he dismissed the strategic impact of such strikes.

“Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender,” he wrote.

“It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray.”

“Every bridge and building will be built back stronger. What will never recover: damage to America’s standing,” Araghchi said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has attacked an Oracle data center in Dubai, according to state media.

On Thursday, two drones also targeted a U.S. diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, security sources said.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the IRGC also struck an Amazon cloud computing center in Bahrain “in retaliation for attacks on Iran,” the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack targeting Israel Thursday, saying they launched a barrage aimed at “vital Israeli enemy targets.”

The Times of Israel reported the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a single missile triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem before being successfully intercepted.

The Houthis, in a statement, asserted the strike targeted the Tel Aviv area.

The Times of Israel also said the group claimed the attack was part of its ongoing military operations against Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has killed a commander from a surface-to-surface missile unit based in western Iran during a recent operation.

In a statement released Thursday, the military identified the commander as Mokarram Azimi, alleging he was responsible for multiple missile launches targeting Israel.

The IDF added that three battalion commanders from the same unit were also killed in the strike, describing them as key figures involved in launching projectiles toward Israeli territory.

“We will continue to pursue all those who fire missiles at Israel—launchers, missiles, and personnel,” the statement said, according to Iran International.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call on Thursday with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministry said the call was initiated by Iran and formed part of Araghchi’s ongoing consultations with several counterparts.

During the conversation, the two ministers discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on United Nations Security Council discussions regarding the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran International reported.

According to Russian news agencies, the call also covered broader Middle East issues, with both sides reviewing regional and international developments.

Iran issued a stark warning of “crushing” attacks against the United States and Israel Thursday following remarks by President Donald Trump in his address to the nation.

Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said that Tehran would continue its campaign until both countries face what he described as “permanent regret and surrender,” according to comments reported by the Tasnim News Agency.

Zolfaqari added that Iran is prepared to escalate its military operations, promising “more crushing, broader, and more destructive” attacks on its adversaries, as cited by Euronews.

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. would intensify its actions against Iran, saying that within the next “two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages.”

Austria has rejected U.S. requests for military overflights through its airspace since the start of the Iran war, citing its long-standing policy of neutrality, a Defense Ministry spokesperson confimedThursday.

“There have indeed been requests, and they were refused from the outset,” Col. Michael Bauer said, adding that any such request involving a country at war is consistently denied, according to Euronews.

Austria has maintained neutrality since 1955. It is geographically surrounded by NATO states, while Switzerland — also a neutral country — is at the west.

Switzerland has taken a similar position confirming that it had refused requests to use its airspace, also citing its own neutrality policy.

Israel’s Air Force (IAF) said it carried out strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including what it said was mobile command centers hidden in train cars, as part of an ongoing campaign against Tehran’s military network.

The strikes come amid escalating tensions and follow what Israeli officials characterized as sustained operations, in a post shared on X.

“In the wake of extensive strikes in Tehran, the Air Force struck yesterday a base of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a mobile headquarters of the regime's commanders,” the IAF said.

“Throughout Operation ‘Roar of the Lion,’ the Air Force systematically struck hundreds of headquarters of the Iranian terror regime across Iran that were rendered inoperable,” it said.

The IAF also said that the IDF had identified that the Iranian terror regime had begun “positioning its headquarters in mobile train cars, and the regime's commanders began operating from within them.”

“In the wake of the strikes, the IDF struck a mobile headquarters in which regime commanders were operating,”

A ballistic missile storage site of the missile unit in the Tabriz area was also struck as part of Israel’s effort to degrade the Iranian regime's missile arsenal, the IAF said.

The United Kingdom accused Iran on Thursday of holding the global economy hostage as diplomats from 41 countries held discussions on pressuring Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

While the United States didn’t attend the virtual meeting, on Wednesday President Donald Trump repeated that securing the waterway is not America’s job.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the discussions showed “the strength of our international determination” to reopen the strait.

“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” Cooper said at the start of the meeting.

Cooper also said “unsustainable” spikes in oil and food prices were “hitting households and businesses in every corner of the world,” the Associated Press reported.

The meeting also covered working with the U.N. International Maritime Organization to free 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers who are trapped.

Since the war began Feb. 28, there have been 23 attacks on vessels in the strait.

Eleven crew members have been killed, according to shipping intelligence firm Lloyd’s List.

President Donald Trump has claimed that a key Iranian bridge was destroyed in an airstrike, demanding that the regime “make a deal before it’s too late.”

Trump made the claim in a Truth Social post, sharing a video of the purported strike on Iran’s B1 bridge.

“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!” Trump wrote.

Fox News Digital has not confirmed the reporting on the B1 bridge’s destruction.

The B1 bridge was reportedly damaged in an airstrike, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, though the extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

The B1 bridge is located along a central transit route between Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj.

Gas prices are rising across nearly every region, with some states already well above the national average.

As of April 2, the national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.08 per gallon, according to AAA – up $1.09 from a month earlier.

On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.89 per gallon in California and $5.36 in Washington. On the East Coast, gas prices are approaching or exceeding $4 in several areas, including $4.20 in Washington, D.C., and $4.01 in New York.

In the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $4.25 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. Southern states remain cheaper overall, though prices are rising. Texas averages about $3.80 and South Carolina at $3.83, while Florida is higher at $4.23.

Meanwhile, diesel is outpacing gasoline due to its link to freight and industry, meaning increases can ripple through supply chains and raise costs across the economy.

Diesel currently stands at $5.50 a gallon, up $1.73 from a month ago, according to AAA, surpassing $5 for the first time since December 2022 as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies.

The conflict with Iran is making it more expensive for Americans to buy a home.

Mortgage rates have climbed to their highest level since early September, according to Freddie Mac.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.38% for the week ending March 26, up from 5.98% before the conflict began, as inflation fears ripple through the economy.

The latest data point, means higher monthly payments and fewer affordable homes in an already strained housing market.

Just weeks ago, rates had dipped below the key 6% mark for the first time in more than three years — a psychological breakthrough that experts hoped would spark a busy spring housing market.

Now, that momentum is fading as global tensions push borrowing costs higher. For many buyers, the latest jump puts homeownership even further out of reach.

In an address Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump said the rise in prices across the economy would be temporary.

A senior Iranian official responsible for funding the regime’s military operations and terror networks through oil revenues was killed in a targeted strike earlier this week in Tehran, the Israeli military said Thursday.

The airstrike eliminated Jamshid Eshaqi, commander of the Iranian regime’s “Oil Headquarters,” a key unit that manages oil profits used to finance weapons development and regional proxy groups, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

Eshaqi oversaw the financial arm of Iran’s military forces and played a central role in directing funds toward ballistic missile production and internal security operations, according to the IDF.

Israeli officials said the oil-based funding network also supports Iran’s proxy groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The Israeli military said it carried out an airstrike on a key Iranian military headquarters in Tehran used to finance ballistic missile production and fund terror groups across the Middle East.

The Israel Defense Forces said the target was a central command site of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), where officials managed budgets for the regime’s armed forces and coordinated funding for proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

According to the IDF, the facility played a critical role in channeling funds used to produce thousands of ballistic missiles and weapons that pose a threat to Israel and beyond.

The military said the same funding networks also support Iran’s internal security forces and the Basij, which Israel accused of violently suppressing domestic protests.

Over the years, Iran has funneled tens of billions of dollars through the IRGC and its elite Quds Force to proxy groups across the region, according to the IDF, enabling attacks against Israeli targets and other countries.

Israel said the strike was carried out by the Israeli Air Force based on intelligence gathered by military sources.

French President Emmanuel Macron defended NATO’s role Thursday, saying allies must stand by their commitments — a pointed response to President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of the alliance.

Macron made the comments while responding to a reporter’s question about the possibility of the United States pulling out of the alliance, something Trump has said he is considering.

“When you have committed to an alliance, you live up to those commitments. You do not comment on them every morning. And the day there is a problem, you are there,” Macron told reporters Thursday in Seoul, South Korea.

Macron also said the U.S. cannot expect support for the Iran war because “this is not our operation.”

“They can hardly complain afterward that they are not being supported in an operation they chose to undertake alone. This is not our operation,” Macron said. “What we want is for peace to be restored as quickly as possible.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent — who quit his government role last month over his opposition to the Iran war — suggested in a Wednesday night post on X that President Donald Trump will only be able to declare victory in Iran if he "restrains" Israel. 

"The purpose of POTUS’s speech this evening was to show that we can declare victory when we choose. This is only possible if POTUS restrains the Israelis 1st. Israel needs us committed indefinitely, we are seeking a quick end to the war. We have drastically different goals than Israel & must act accordingly," Kent asserted in the post. 

Kent made the comments after Trump — who launched the controversial U.S. war against Iran last month in conjunction with Israel — delivered an address to the nation about the ongoing conflict on Wednesday night.

"Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly. We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing," Trump said.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday pushed back on talk of the U.S. leaving NATO, saying “you need allies” even as President Trump again raised the idea of exiting the alliance.

“We got an awful lot of people who think that NATO is a very critical, incredibly successful post-World War II alliance,” Thune said of past conversations among Republicans about the move.

“I think in the world today, you need allies,” he added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump called on the world's countries to "build up some delayed courage" and "just take" the Strait of Hormuz while addressing the nation in a primetime speech about Iran Wednesday night. 

Movement in the Strait, which is a narrow but crucial global oil trade passageway, has been greatly hampered by Iran, which the teetering country has held out as one of its bargaining chips. Iranian interference in the strait has significantly impaired the movement of oil tankers through the strait, causing global oil prices to rise.

Trump said that while the U.S. "imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future," the "countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage."

He promised the U.S. "will be helpful," but stressed that other countries "should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on."

The president shared two suggestions for countries that depend on oil passing through Hormuz.

"To those countries that can't get fuel, many of which refuse to get involved in the decapitation of Iran … I have a suggestion. No. 1, buy oil from the United States of America. We have plenty. We have so much. And No. 2, build up some delayed courage — should have done it before. Should have done it with us as we asked — go to the strait and just take it. Protect it. Use it for yourselves."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo.

A former National Security Council senior director says he can’t blame President Donald Trump for feeling frustrated with NATO over its lack of participation in the Iran operation, warning there could be “a big issue going forward” should Europe fail to step up to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Michael Allen, who served under former President George W. Bush, told “FOX & Friends” that he understands why Trump feels the U.S. relationship with NATO is one-sided after most alliance members refused to let U.S. forces use their bases.

“I can't blame the president for feeling that way,” Allen said. “Simply put, it's outrageous. It's one thing for the Europeans to say, ‘Hey, listen, you didn't consult us enough before the military action, so we're not going to get involved kinetically.’ But it's quite another to say, ‘Listen, we're not even going to let you use our base, use your bases on our territory.’ I mean, that's what they're for, after all.”

Allen added: “I think it's a huge foul by the Europeans, and I hope they step up in some way on Hormuz, or I think this will be a big issue going forward.”

Allen also discussed the U.S. stance on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“That's the most important thing here,” he said. “This has been a success by the president, but strategically, if at the end of the day the Iranians can dictate who goes through the Strait of Hormuz, that's not going to be a great outcome. We need to make sure that we've got control or this needs to be opened again as an international passageway.”

France is pushing back on calls for military action in the Strait of Hormuz, with President Emmanuel Macron calling such an operation to reopen the vital waterway “unrealistic” and urging negotiations instead.

“There are people who advocate the idea of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by force, through a military operation, a position that has at times been expressed by the United States,” Macron told reporters Thursday during a visit to South Korea. “That has never been the option we have chosen, and we consider it unrealistic.”

Macron said a military operation “would take an infinite amount of time and would expose anyone passing through the strait to coastal threats from (Iran’s) Revolutionary Guard, who has capabilities, ballistic missiles and many other risks.”

The reopening of the Strait “can only be done in coordination with Iran,” through negotiations that would follow a potential ceasefire, Macron said.

Macron’s comments come after President Donald Trump voiced criticisms about NATO over the alliance’s refusal to join a potential effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump revealed during Wednesday night's Iran address that one of his top achievements against Iran, which he described as spanning across both his terms, was shredding former President Barack Obama's 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump described the efforts in the Middle East as making "tremendous progress" and called Operation Epic Fury "necessary for the safety of America and the security of the free world." 

Meanwhile, he slammed Iran as "fanatical," "murderous," and "thuggish," arguing that letting them have a nuclear weapon "would be an intolerable threat." While slamming Obama's 2015 deal, the president cited the $400 million cash payment the former president's administration flew to Iran in an effort to "buy their respect and loyalty."

"The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will never let that happen, and neither should any of our past presidents," Trump said, leading into his comments about Obama's "terrible" deal with Iran. 

"But it didn't work," Trump continued. "They laughed at our president and went on with their mission to have a nuclear bomb. His Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran, and they would have had them years ago, and they would have used them – would have been a different world. There would have been no Middle East and no Israel right now, in my opinion … Had I not terminated that terrible deal – I was so honored to do it. I was so proud to do it. It was so bad right from the beginning."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night, saying the United States’ "core strategic objectives" in Iran are "nearing completion" just a month after Operation Epic Fury began and warned that the U.S. will hit Tehran "extremely hard" over the next several weeks.

Trump says Operation Epic Fury is ‘nearing completion’

"Tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," the president said, touting the United States military and their "extraordinary" efforts.

"We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders," Trump said.

"That means eliminating Iran’s navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their air force and their missile program at levels never seen before, and annihilating their defense industrial base," the president said Wednesday night.

Trump says rising gas prices in the US are ‘short term’

Since Operation Epic Fury began, gas prices in the United States have increased. The president acknowledged that development, and expressed confidence that those increases are "short term."

"Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home," the president said. "The short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict."

Trump urges Americans to keep the Iran conflict ‘in perspective’

"It’s very important that we keep this conflict in perspective," the president said. "American involvement in World War One lasted one year, seven months and five days."

"World War Two lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days," he continued. "The Korean War lasted for three years, one month and two days. The Vietnam War lasted for 19 years, five months and 29 days."

"Iraq went on for eight years, eight months and 28 days," the president said.

"We are in this military operation, so powerful, so brilliant against one of the most powerful countries for 32 days," he said. "And the country has been eviscerated and, essentially, is really no longer a threat."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman.

Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C., praised President Donald Trump’s address Wednesday night regarding the conflict in Iran, calling it a “defining moment” in the military campaign.

“So what did we learn tonight? In two or three weeks, we’ll have completed the objective of destroying their ballistic missile program. They’re no longer to be able to threat America or Europe, make more missiles,” Graham said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

“We’ve learned tonight that their nuclear ambitions to build a nuclear bomb have been completely decimated, and their ability to finance terrorism is gone,” he added.

Graham said Trump is pressing Iran to reach a deal or face further action.“But if you don’t do a deal, I’m gonna decimate your ability to come back economically,” he continued.

“President Trump outlined targets that would destroy the ability of this regime to survive over time. If you don’t take this deal, we’re gonna blow up all the things that you need to come back.”

“This was a defining moment in this campaign,” Graham asserted.“We’re inside the 10-yard line, and he’s telling Iran how this movie ends. It’s up to you,” he said.

“We could do it through diplomacy, and if you reject diplomacy, this will end with a decimation of your ability to ever come back economically.”

President Donald Trump told Americans in a primetime address Wednesday night that Iran has been “eviscerated and is essentially no longer a threat” after a 32-day military campaign.

Trump touted the success of U.S. Operation Epic Fury, describing it as “so powerful” and “so brilliant.” He also outlined the next phase of the war.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” he said, adding that "discussions" are ongoing.

Trump said regime change was not the goal but has effectively occurred because the country’s original leaders are dead.

He described the new leadership as “less radical and more reasonable,” but warned that if no deal is reached, the U.S. could strike key targets, including electric generating plants.

“We have not hit their oil… because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding,” Trump said.

Trump also said nuclear sites struck by B-2 bombers were “obliterated” and are under close satellite surveillance.

“If we see them make a move, we’ll hit them with missiles very hard,” he said.

Reporting by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.