US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran could end “soon”, claiming US and Israeli forces have already destroyed most of the targets available in the country.
“Little this and that… Whenever I want it to end, it’s going to end,” Trump said on Wednesday (March 11), according to Axios.
Trump reportedly said there was “virtually nothing left to target.”
Trump says war is ‘going great’
Trump insisted that the military operation had already caused extensive damage to Iran’s capabilities.
“The war is going great. We’re way ahead of schedule. We’ve done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period,” he said.
The president also accused Iran of destabilizing the wider region for decades.
“They were after the rest of the Middle East. They’re paying for the 47 years of death and destruction they’ve caused. This is payback. They’re not getting off that easy,” Trump said.
Political pressure and market concerns
Despite his upbeat tone, the conflict has created political pressure on Trump at home amid fears of global economic disruption from the war.
Critics say the White House launched the military campaign without fully preparing for its consequences, particularly the risk that Iran could disrupt oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy bottlenecks.
Roughly 20% of the world’s oil reserves normally pass through the strait, which is vital to global energy markets.
Israel is signaling a longer war
While Trump has indicated that the conflict will end soon, Israel Katz, Israel’s defense minister, has indicated that Israel is prepared for a longer campaign.
“The war will continue indefinitely, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all objectives and decisively win the campaign,” Katz said.
Iranian officials have also vowed to continue resisting the US-Israeli offensive.
The conflict enters its second week
The war began nearly two weeks ago when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear program.
Since then, Trump has shifted between declaring a major success and calling for “unconditional surrender” from Iran’s leaders.
His administration has also tried to reassure Americans that the conflict will not become a long war, although Trump has not ruled out deploying US ground troops if necessary.
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Tensions are rising in the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions have escalated in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned it could block oil shipments through the waterway.
Iran’s national security official Ali Larijani issued a defiant response after Trump threatened tougher retaliation.
“The sacrificial nation of Iran is not afraid of your empty threats,” Larijani wrote on social media. “Even those greater than you could not eliminate Iran. Be careful not to be eliminated yourself.”
The US claims that Iran’s naval capability has been hit
U.S. officials said intelligence indicated Iran had begun laying sea mines in the strait, although the number deployed appeared to be limited.
Trump said US strikes destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying boats on Tuesday, disrupting Tehran’s plans.
Read also | US-Israel-Iran conflict: IEA to release 400 million barrels of oil amid tensions
