SUMMARY OF TRUMP’S SPEECH. TALKING TOUGH. THREATENING TO BRING IRAN TO STONE AGE.
Oil prices jump and markets slide after Donald Trump says US will hit Iran “extremely hard” in a primetime televised speech from the White House
In response, a spokesperson for the Iranian military warns of incoming “crushing, broader and destructive” attacks
Trump also called on allies to “build up the courage” to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the US doesn’t need it – what else did he say?
His speech was largely a rehash of what he’s been saying for days – and it leaves four big questions unanswered, our chief North America correspondent writes
Global markets weren’t reassured by the president’s words, writes our Asia business reporter. Oil prices jumped to $106 a barrel and stocks slumped in Asia, a region where many countries are heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil
Before the speech, Iran’s foreign ministry rejected Trump’s claim that the country had asked for a ceasefire as “false and baseless”
-BBC
