Will bring them back to Stone Age if no deal is reached: Trump warns Iran

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that American forces could “bring them back to the Stone Ages” within weeks if no deal is reached, declaring the country’s military “decimated” after a month of sustained US strikes — claims Tehran has strongly denied.

In a televised address on Wednesday (local time), Trump said it had been “just one month” since the US launched Operation Epic Fury against what he called “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”, asserting rapid battlefield gains.

“Tonight, Iran’s Navy is gone. Their Air Force is in ruins. Their leaders… are now dead,” he said, adding that Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities had been “dramatically curtailed” and key weapons facilities “blown to pieces.”

He framed the campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, also referring to earlier strikes under Operation Midnight Hammer, which he claimed had “totally obliterated” Iranian nuclear sites.

Trump said US objectives — dismantling Iran’s military capacity and limiting its regional influence — were “nearing completion”, but warned of further escalation if negotiations fail. “Over the next two to three weeks, we’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages,” he said, adding that critical infrastructure, including electricity networks, could be targeted.

While stating that regime change was not an official goal, Trump suggested leadership shifts had already occurred due to the deaths of senior figures. He also blamed Iran for recent spikes in global oil prices and urged oil-dependent nations to secure shipping routes independently.

He praised regional partners including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain for their support, and highlighted US energy strength as a buffer against market disruptions.

Iran pushes back

Iranian officials rejected Trump’s claims as “exaggerated” and “propaganda”, insisting the country’s military capabilities remain intact and operational.

A senior Iranian military spokesperson said reports of the navy and air force being “destroyed” were “false narratives aimed at masking US failures”, adding that Iran retains the ability to defend its territory and respond to any escalation.

Tehran also denied that its leadership structure had collapsed, saying governance and command systems were functioning normally.

On the nuclear issue, Iranian authorities reiterated that their programme is peaceful and accused Washington of using the issue as a pretext for military action. They also rejected allegations of targeting commercial shipping, instead blaming US and allied operations for instability in regional waterways.

Iran warned that any attack on its infrastructure would trigger a “decisive and proportionate response”, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

Rising stakes

The escalating war of words comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with global oil markets reacting sharply to supply risks.

Trump acknowledged the deaths of 13 American service members during the campaign, saying their families had urged him to “finish the job”, and described the operation as historically swift.

“We are on the cusp of ending Iran’s sinister threat to America and the world,” he said.

However, with both sides hardening positions, prospects for de-escalation remain uncertain, and further confrontation could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and global energy security.

With IANS inputs