Controlled escalation? Trump hails ‘victories’ in Iran but vows more strikes in next few weeks
US president tells anxious Americans that the conflict’s core objectives are ‘nearing completion’ but fails to lay out a clear timeline to end the war
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared the US‑Israel war against Iran had delivered “decisive, overwhelming victories”, even as he signalled that key military objectives were still “nearing completion” and that further strikes could inflict heavy damage on targets in the country.
“We are going to hit them extremely hard. Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
As the highly unpopular conflict has rapidly escalated into a regional and global crisis, Trump appeared to try to reassure the American public and ask for patience.
“Our objectives are very simple and clear. We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or project power outside their borders,” he said, adding that “the core strategic objectives are nearing completion”.
WATCH: Donald Trump addresses nation
“Armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield – victories like few people have ever seen before,” Trump said.
“Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and large-scale losses in a matter of weeks,” he added, claiming that Iran’s navy was “absolutely destroyed” and the air force was in “ruins”.