Trump Tells Republicans Iran War Could End “Pretty Quickly”

US President Donald Trump told congressional Republicans that the war with Iran could conclude soon, presenting the conflict as a short, decisive military campaign while defending Washington’s objectives in the operation.

The United States and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran on February 28, carrying out large-scale air and missile strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including air-defence systems, missile launchers and naval assets. The first day of the campaign killed Iran’s then supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The war has now entered its second week, and Trump used a speech to Republican lawmakers to highlight what he described as the progress of the US-Israeli operation, known as Operation Epic Fury.

Throughout his remarks, Trump framed the conflict as a limited intervention.

Trump described the military action as a necessary but temporary step.

He referred to the campaign as a “little excursion”, saying the United States had launched the operation to eliminate “some evil”.

He added that the strength of the US military meant the engagement would remain a “short-term excursion”.

Trump acknowledged that the conflict had caused what he called a “little pause” in economic activity, but said the impact would be brief and that the economy would rebound quickly and “blow it away”.

Trump also suggested the conflict itself may not last much longer.

He said the war on Iran is “going to be finished pretty quickly”, attributing that expectation to what he described as the effectiveness of US military operations.

According to Trump, American forces have already destroyed roughly “80 percent” of Iran’s missile launchers.

“The missiles have been largely knocked out… the drones have been knocked out, and we’re hitting where they make the drones,” he said.

Trump also claimed that US forces sank “46 top-of-the-line” Iranian naval vessels within three and a half days.

While recounting a conversation with a military official, Trump said he had asked why the ships were sunk instead of captured.

“’We could have used it. Why did we sink them?’” Trump said he asked.

“He said, ‘It’s more fun to sink them’.

“They like sinking them better. They say it’s safer to sink them. I guess it’s probably true.”

Trump argued that once the operation concludes it will produce a “much safer world”.

Trump also defended the decision to launch the campaign by asserting that Iran had been preparing an attack against the United States and its allies.

He said Tehran had been close to carrying out that strike.

“Within a week, they were going to attack us, 100 percent. They were ready,” Trump said.

He added that Iran had positioned missiles toward several Middle Eastern countries.

“I think they were looking to take over the Middle East, because when you look, and we have pretty good proof, all of those missiles were… aimed at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE,” he said.

During the speech, Trump also highlighted the killing of senior Iranian leaders, saying the country’s leadership structure had been severely disrupted.

He said several figures were “gone” and that “nobody has any idea who the people are that are going to lead that country”.

Trump also referenced his first-term order that led to the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, whom he described as the “father of the roadside bomb”.

Soleimani had served as the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was widely viewed as a central figure in Iran’s regional military strategy.

Despite presenting the campaign as largely successful, Trump said the United States intended to continue its military operations.

“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump said.

“We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all. Forty-seven years, it should have been done a long time ago,” he added.

‘Disappointed’ Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s new supreme leader

Trump also addressed Iran’s leadership transition following the death of Ali Khamenei.

Iran announced on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the former leader’s son, would assume the role of supreme leader.

Trump said he was “disappointed” by the decision.

“We ⁠think it’s going ⁠to lead to just more ⁠of the same problem ⁠for ⁠the country,” he said.

When asked whether the new leader might become a target, Trump declined to comment directly, saying it would be “inappropriate” to say.

Israel has said it would attempt to assassinate any successor chosen to replace Ali Khamenei.