Washington: Just days after the US administration urged Israel to halt strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, President Donald Trump has told US media that the ongoing US-Israeli military strikes against Iran will end soon, citing the near-total destruction of Iranian targets.
According to TRTworld.com, in a brief phone interview with news site Axios on Wednesday, Trump stated that the war, launched on 28 February with joint US-Israeli strikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, has already exceeded expectations. Trump emphasized that the campaign was progressing ahead of schedule and had inflicted more damage than initially anticipated during the original six-week period.
Trump remarked, "Little this and that... Any time I want it to end, it will end," while highlighting the historical context of Iran's actions in the Middle East. "They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easy," he added. On the day the strikes commenced, Trump had suggested potential resolutions, stating he could either extend the operations or conclude them swiftly, warning Iran against rebuilding its nuclear and missile programs.
Despite Trump's assertions of imminent resolution, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has indicated that the military campaign will persist as long as necessary to achieve all objectives decisively. No formal directive has been issued within the US to halt operations, even as Trump publicly claims substantial completion of the mission.
Meanwhile, Iran maintains that only Tehran can determine when the conflict will conclude. Iranian officials have consistently affirmed that hostilities will persist until deemed necessary for national security. Major General Ali Abdollahi, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that the war would continue until the enemy is regretful and defeated.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, reiterated the stance on Tuesday, emphasizing the need to continue fighting for national security. He suggested that even if the US ceased its offensive, Tehran might persist in its military efforts. Iran has categorically ruled out negotiations with the US, citing unfavorable past experiences.
This situation unfolds as the Trump administration has requested Israel to refrain from targeting Iranian oil facilities and to coordinate with Washington before any such actions, marking the first instance of US restraint since the operation began. Concerns are mounting that targeting energy infrastructure could provoke significant Iranian retaliation against Gulf oil facilities. Trump has described strikes on Iranian oil as a last-resort measure, contingent upon Iranian aggression towards Gulf energy supplies.