US President Donald Trump told Congressional Republicans that the war with Iran could end “quite quickly” as he defended military operations and explained the US’ objectives in the conflict.
The United States and Israel began operations against Iran on February 28, carrying out large-scale air and missile attacks against Iran’s military infrastructure, including air defense systems, missile launchers, and naval assets. On the first day of the operation, then-Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed.
Recommended stories
1 List of itemsend of list
The war is now in its second week, and President Trump in his latest speech highlighted the success of Operation Epic Fury and suggested the war could soon be over.
Here are some key takeaways from his remarks.
President Trump calls Iran operation a ‘short expedition’
President Trump framed the recent military action against Iran as a “little trip” needed to eliminate “some kind of evil.”
He said the engagement would only be a “short expedition,” given the incredible capabilities of the U.S. military.
He said the measures caused a “little pause” in the economy, but not a big one, and that the economy would quickly expand rapidly and “blow out.”
The war will end ‘quite quickly’
President Trump also declared that the war against Iran “will be over pretty quickly.”
He attributed such a quick conclusion to the highly effective and “great work” of the U.S. military, pointing to the following developments:
The military has already destroyed approximately “80 percent” of Iran’s missile launchers, reducing its capabilities to “only a small amount,” and the remaining launchers were eliminated very quickly. “Most of the missiles have been destroyed, the drones have been destroyed, and we are attacking the areas where they were manufacturing the drones,” he said. “We accomplished more than 5,000 goals today, some of them very important, and we’ve left some of the most important goals for later in case we need them,” Trump said, adding that other goals could include power facilities.
He stressed that once the operation is completed, there will soon be a “safer world.”
President Trump also claimed that the US military had sunk 46 “top-of-the-line” Iranian naval vessels in three and a half days.
President Trump recalled his conversations with military officials and said he asked them why they allowed the ship to sink instead of seizing it.
“‘We could have used it. Why did you sink it?'” Trump apparently asked the officials. “He said, ‘It’s more fun to sink it.’
“They prefer to sink. They say it’s safer to sink. I think that’s probably true.”
US thwarted imminent attack on US and allies ‘within a week’
President Trump also claimed that the United States had to attack Iran because Iran was preparing to attack the United States, but neither the U.S. president nor anyone in his administration has presented evidence to support that claim.
“Within a week, they were 100% going to attack us. They were ready,” Trump said.
He also claimed that Iran has missiles aimed at neutral Middle Eastern countries that eventually sided with the United States, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
“I think they were trying to take over the Middle East, because if you look closely, we have pretty good evidence. All those missiles were aimed at… Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE,” he added.
President Trump celebrated killing of leader
He celebrated the killing of several Iranian leaders, saying they were “gone” and that “no one knows who the people are who are going to lead this country.”
He linked the speech to the operation to assassinate Qassem Soleimani, whom he called the “father of the roadside bomb.”
Mr. Soleimani was the longtime commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Quds Force and was widely considered a key builder of Iran’s network of regional alliance groups.
“We haven’t won enough yet.”
President Trump said the United States could declare its military operation against Iran a success, but the United States intends to go further.
“We have already won in many ways, but we have not won enough yet,” Trump said.
“We move forward more determined than ever to achieve the ultimate victory that will end this long-term danger once and for all. After 47 years, it should have been done a long time ago,” he added.
‘Disappointed’ Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s new supreme leader
President Trump said he was “disappointed” by Iran’s nomination of Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as the country’s supreme leader.
“We think this problem is going to create more of the same problems in this country,” Trump said.
Asked if the new leader had a target on his back, Trump said it would be “inappropriate” to say so. Israel has announced that it will attempt to assassinate the new Iranian leader chosen to replace Ayatollah Khamenei.
President Trump has previously refused to provide details about his plans to deal with Mojtaba Khamenei. “I won’t say that. I’m not happy with him,” he said.
