US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will deliver a prime-time address to the nation on Thursday. Trump did not disclose the specific topic of the speech at the time of announcement.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions with Iran. Hours before declaring his intention to address the nation, Trump stated he would reimpose a US naval blockade on Iran and impose a 20% fee on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which a significant portion of global oil passes.
Regional tensions have broadened beyond US-Iran relations. Russia has deployed "doomsday" aircraft to Iran as Middle East tensions continue to escalate, according to reporting on the situation.
The timing and context of Trump's planned Thursday address suggest it will address the ongoing Iran situation and broader Middle East developments, though the White House has not officially confirmed the speech's subject matter.
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