Trump ‘winding down’ Iran war: President Donald Trump has signaled that the United States could ease the intensity of the conflict with Iran, but ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire.
While hinting at “winding down” US military operations in the Middle East, Trump listed “five objectives” that Washington is nearing to achieve in its war against Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States was close to achieving its military objectives while ruling out a ceasefire.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he said.
What are Trump’s 5 objectives?
Trump further listed five main objectives that the US aims to achieve in its war with Iran. These are:
– Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them.
– Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base.
– Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry.
– Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place.
– Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and others.
Trump also suggested that the burden of securing the Strait of Hormuz should fall on other nations, even if Washington offers support if asked.
Trump rules out any ceasefire with Iran
Trump has ruled out any ceasefire with Iran, signalling that US and Israeli military operations will continue despite growing calls for de-escalation.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, the US President said he is open to talks but not a pause in fighting. “Look, we can have dialogue, but I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know, you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re obliterating the other side,” he said.
Asserting that US strikes have dismantled Iran’s military infrastructure, Trump said, “I think we’ve won. We knocked out their navy, their Air Force, we knocked out their anti-aircraft, we’ve knocked out everything.”
US-Israel-Iran War
The US and Israel have carried out thousands of air strikes in Iran since they started the war on February 28 in which at least 1,400 people were killed, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US-Israeli strikes have destroyed Iran’s military capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 19 Iran was “being decimated” and that the U.S. and Israel were “winning”.
(With inputs from AFP)
