- US forces are nearing completion of objectives in the war against Iran, Trump said
- Operation Epic Fury has severely damaged Iran’s navy, air force, and missile capabilities
- Trump claimed regime change was not the war’s goal, but many Iranian leaders have died
US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces were "nearing completion" of their objectives in the war against Iran, as he hailed the military for scoring "overwhelming victories" in the conflict. He explained his rationale for starting the conflict, claiming a regime change in the Islamic Republic was not his primary objective.
Trump, in a rare prime-time address, said the objectives behind the American agression were to "systematically dismantle" Iran's ability to "threaten America or project power outside of their borders".
"In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield -- victories like few people have ever seen before," he said.
"Tonight I am pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion."
The speech came as the US leader is grasping for an off-ramp in a conflict that has quickly slipped out of control.
Nukes To Missiles: The US Targets
Trump claimed that just a month ago, before the US military began its Operation Epic Fury, Iran was the "world's number one state sponsor of terror".
"Tonight, Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins, their leaders, most of them... are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated as we speak," he said, adding that Tehran's missile and drone capabilities had been "dramatically curtailed" and weapons facilities "blown to pieces."
"Our enemies are losing--and America, as it has been for five years under my presidency, is winning, and now, winning bigger than ever before."
The US president said war against Iran was "necessary for the safety of America" and the world. He called the Islamic regime running the country "thuggish and murderous", pointing to a recent crackdown on protests in the country, which killed thousands of citizens. Leaders like that cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon," he said.
"From the very first day I announced my campaign, I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. This fanatical regime has been chanting "Death to America" for 47 years -- and it should have been handled long before I arrived in office," he said.
He claimed that he tried the diplomatic approach first, "Yet, the regime continued its relentless quest for nuclear weapons and rejected every attempt at an agreement."
On February 28, the United States and Israel attacked Iran after weeks of military buildup and threats from President Trump, even while Tehran and Washington were engaged in talks over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.
Trump claimed that Operation Midnight Hammer, America's June attack on Iran, "totally obliterated those nuclear sites," but according to him, Iran attempted to rebuild its programme elsewhere.
He said Tehran was fast developing longer-range missiles and was "right at the doorstep" of developing a nuclear weapon.
A nuclear Iran was an 'intolerable threat', he added.
What Was Not War's Objective
Trump stated that regime change in Iran was not the stated goal of the war and suggested leadership shifts had already taken place. "Regime change was not our goal... but regime change has occurred because of all of their original leaders' deaths," he said.
The Mixed Messaging
Trump has said the war would end quickly, only to make more threats against Iran. "Over the next two to three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong," he said.
He also said he is open to a deal with the Islamic Republic, only to say that one was not necessary to end the war. There was also mixed messaging on whether Trump would insist that Iran fully reopen the Hormuz Strait to oil and other commodity shipping. The critical waterway for one-fifth of seaborne oil has been largely closed since the start of hostilities, presenting a major economic pain point. The Strait's status has traders on edge, with Brent crude -- the international oil benchmark -- surging about 60 per cent since the war began and US gasoline topping $4 a gallon.
Trump has insisted the energy shocks will ease once the war is over, but he did not lay out a plan in the speech for how the US would convince Iran to let traffic resume through the strait. He exhorted allies who rely on Middle Eastern oil supplies to show 'courage' and 'take care of that passage'.
"They must grab it and cherish it," he said.
