Trump claims Iran war ‘nearing completion’ and seeks to justify conflict in prime-time address

Markets sink after president offers little detail on how he intends to wind down conflict over next two to three weeks

• Middle East crisis - live updates

Donald Trump used a prime-time 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".