Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks, but prepared to go far longer

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he ordered military action against Iran to stop its nuclear program and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities. This was his most detailed statement about the conflict, beyond two video messages and a few short phone conversations with reporters over the weekend, which sometimes gave mixed messages about the goals of the operation. He claimed, without providing proof, that the threat from Iran was urgent. “This was our last best chance to strike ... and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” he declared during an event in the White House East Room. Trump mentioned that military operations were progressing ahead of schedule, but did not share specific details. He estimated that the U.S. campaign would last about four to five weeks, but said it might extend beyond that. A key goal of the operation is to stop Iran from creating a nuclear weapon, which Tehran insists it is not doing, and to disrupt its long-range missile program, according to Trump. “An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people,” he added. He also claimed that U.S. forces had destroyed 10 Iranian ships, stating, “they’re at the bottom of the sea,” and expressed confidence in the progress of the campaign. “Today, the United States military continues to carry out large-scale, combat operations in Iran to eliminate the grave threats posed to America by this terrible, terrorist regime,” Trump concluded.