Trump vows to hit Iran 'extremely hard' amid Catholic calls for peace

President Donald Trump vowed stronger military action against Iran in an address to the nation on Wednesday night, amid continued calls for peace and dialogue from Pope Leo XIV and other members of the Catholic hierarchy.

“Weʼre going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on April 1, adding that “in the meantime, discussions are ongoing.”

Trump said the military is “on track to complete all of Americaʼs military objectives shortly, very shortly,” but said he also intends to “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”

“If, during this period of time, no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets,” the president said, and threatened to escalate to attacking Iranian infrastructure.

“If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously,” he said. “We have not hit their oil, even though thatʼs the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding.”

Trump said the militaryʼs “core strategic objectives” are nearly complete, and noted that Iranʼs military has significantly deteriorated. Now, more than one month into the conflict, Trump said “weʼre getting very close.”

As Iran continues to threaten ships that must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said “countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage” and told them to “grab it” while promising “we will be helpful.”

Trumpʼs address was his first speech to the nation since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb. 28. Trump has made remarks to reporters, given interviews, and posted statements, but had not delivered a formal, televised address to the nation.

Pope, bishops pray for peace

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, published a statement earlier in the day welcoming indications the war may soon end and calling for a ceasefire.

“The longer the conflict with Iran continues, including the risk of deploying ground troops to the region, the greater the risk of a dramatic escalation risking an ever-greater regional conflict,” Coakley said.

Citing Pope Leo XIVʼs Palm Sunday homily of March 29, in which the pope proclaimed Christ the “King of Peace” who rejects war, Coakley encouraged Christians, renewed by Easter, to live out their vocation as peacemakers.

“Pope Leo XIV made clear: ‘Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,’” Coakley said.

The pope separately addressed the conflict on March 31, telling reporters outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo: “Easter should be the holiest, most sacred time of the year.”

“Iʼm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war,” the pope told reporters March 31. “Hopefully heʼs looking for an ‘off ramp.’ Hopefully heʼs looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred thatʼs being created and thatʼs increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”