Trump to address nation as Iran war batters approval

US President Donald Trump will address the nation on the Iran war on Wednesday, his first prime-time speech since the conflict began, as plunging approval ratings and rising economic anxiety deepen political pressure at home.

The White House has given no details on the address, but it comes hours after Trump claimed Iran had sought a pause in hostilities -- even as he set conditions that underscored the uncertainty surrounding the war's trajectory.

Iran's president "has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"

There was no independent confirmation of Trump's claim.

Trump is set to speak at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Thursday), more than a month after the United States and Israel launched their assault on Iran -- a delay that contrasts with the early addresses presidents typically deliver at the outset of major conflicts.

His remarks come at a precarious political moment.

Recent polling shows Trump's approval rating slipping below 40 percent, with disapproval climbing above the mid-50s as voters sour on both the war and its economic fallout. 

Support for the Iran campaign itself is deeply underwater, with majorities opposing the offensive and independents turning sharply against it.

The economic picture has compounded the problem. Gasoline prices have surged above $4 a gallon (over $1 a liter) for the first time in years, while consumer confidence has weakened, dragging down Trump's already fragile standing on the economy.

At the same time, the president's messaging has veered between escalation and withdrawal.

In recent days, Trump has suggested the war could end within "two or three weeks," insisting the United States has largely achieved its objectives. 

Yet he has also threatened expanded strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure and floated the possibility of ground operations, while aides privately acknowledge uncertainty about the administration's long-term strategy.

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- NATO rift -

Trump has also rattled allies, saying he is "beyond reconsideration" on US membership in NATO after European countries declined to back the Iran campaign -- a stance that risks widening a transatlantic rift at a moment of crisis.

Markets, however, have seized on his more optimistic signals.

Global equities rallied and oil prices fell Wednesday on hopes of a near-term end to the conflict. Brent crude was down around one percent at $102.85 a barrel, while stock markets from Asia to Europe posted strong gains.

"The market appears increasingly optimistic that an end to the war in Iran is in the offing," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

Still, analysts warned the underlying risks remain acute, with oil prices elevated and the Strait of Hormuz -- a conduit for roughly a fifth of global supply -- still effectively shut.

Beyond the markets, the strategic picture is increasingly difficult to reconcile with the administration's rhetoric, say its critics.

US and Israeli forces have struck thousands of targets and inflicted heavy damage on Iran's military infrastructure. 

But the conflict has dragged on, the leadership in Tehran remains in place, and the economic shock has spread globally -- raising questions about whether Trump can deliver a clear endgame.

That uncertainty has filtered into Washington, where even some of Trump's allies acknowledge the war has become a growing political liability ahead of November's midterm elections.

Trump's address -- which the White House has framed as an "important update" -- is expected to offer his clearest attempt yet to frame the conflict, and potentially an exit, for an increasingly skeptical public.

ft/acb