US President Donald Trump has told congressional Republicans that the war with Iran could end “quickly” as he defended military action and outlined Washington’s intentions in the conflict.
The United States and Israel launched a campaign against Iran on February 28, with large-scale air and missile attacks on Iranian military infrastructure, including air defense systems, missile launches, and naval assets. Killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the operation.
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The war has now entered its second week and in his latest speech, Trump described Operation Epic Fury as a success and hinted that it may end soon.
Here are some key takeaways from his remarks.
Trump calls Iran operation a ‘short-term excursion’
Trump framed the recent military action against Iran as a “little excursion” necessary to get rid of “some evil.”
Because of the incredible capabilities of the US military, this engagement is strictly a “short-term excursion,” he said.
He said that while the move would cause “a bit of a lull” in the economy, it wouldn’t be a big one, and the economy would quickly escalate and “blow it up.”
The war will end ‘very soon’
Trump declared that the war on Iran would be “over very soon”.
He explained that such a rapid conclusion was due to the very efficient and “fantastic work” of the US military, which observed the following progress:
- The military has already wiped out roughly “80 percent” of Iran’s missile launchers, reducing its capabilities to a “trickle,” with the rest of the launchers being eliminated quickly.
- “The missiles are mostly knocked out … the drones are knocked out, and we’re hitting where they make the drones,” he said.
- “We hit 5,000 targets today, some of which were major targets, and if we had to do that we missed some major targets,” Trump said, adding that other targets could include power facilities.
He stressed that once this operation is over, it will lead to a “much safer world”.
Trump claimed the US military sank “46 top-of-the-line” Iranian naval vessels in three and a half days.
Describing the conversation with the military official, Trump said he asked why the ships were sunk instead of captured.
“‘We could have used that. Why did we drown them?'” Trump apparently asked the official. “He said, ‘It’s more fun to drown them.’
“They like to drown them. They say it’s safe to drown them. I think it’s probably true.”
US averts imminent attack on US and allies ‘within a week’
Trump claimed that the US had to attack Iran because Tehran was preparing to attack the US, although neither the US president nor anyone in his administration presented any evidence to support the claim.
“Within a week, they’re going to attack us 100 percent. They were ready,” Trump said.
He also claimed that Iran had missiles aimed at neutral Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which ultimately sided with the US.
“I think they want to take over the Middle East, because when you look, and we have a lot of good evidence, all those missiles … are aimed at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE,” he added.
Trump celebrated the assassination of the leadership
He celebrated the assassination of several Iranian leaders, saying they were “gone” and that “no one knows who are the people who lead that country.”
He linked the speech to his first-term operation to kill Qasem Soleimani, whom he called the “father of the roadside bomb.”
Soleimani was the longtime commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and was widely seen as a key architect of Iran’s regional network of allied groups.
‘We haven’t won enough’
The US may now declare its military campaign against Iran a success, but Trump said the US would go further.
“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump said.
“We will continue more determined than ever to achieve the final victory that will end this prolonged menace once and for all. Forty-seven years, it should have been done a long time ago,” he said.
‘Disillusioned’ Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s new Supreme Leader
Trump says he is disappointed that Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ali Khamenei, as the country’s supreme leader.
“We think it could lead to a similar problem for the country,” Trump said.
Asked if there was a target on the new leader’s back, Trump said it was “inappropriate.” Israel has said it will try to assassinate any new Iranian leader elected to replace Ali Khamenei.
Trump has previously refused to give details about his plans to deal with Mojtaba Khamenei. “Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him,” he said.
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