Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the war between the United States and Iran could end soon, claiming there were few remaining military targets in the country.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said there was “practically nothing left to target” and suggested the conflict could end quickly if he chose to bring it to a close. The war began on February 28 and has intensified tensions across the Middle East, contributing to a surge in global oil prices.
The US president has issued mixed signals about the timeline and objectives of the conflict, even as criticism mounts that the administration launched the military campaign without fully preparing for possible consequences, including disruptions to oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for a trip focused on economic matters, Trump said the strategic waterway would soon be safe.
“You’re going to see great safety, and it’s going to be very, very quickly,” he said, adding that US forces had destroyed most of Iran’s mine-laying vessels in a single night, though he claimed Tehran had not yet deployed mines in the strait.
Trump also repeated his assertion that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened, saying the country’s navy, air force, air defenses, and leadership were “gone.”
The administration has stated that key war objectives include preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and dismantling its ballistic missile programme. However, officials have not formally declared regime change as a goal, despite the killing of former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei during the conflict. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was later named as Iran’s new supreme leader.
When asked whether he would declare victory while the new leader remained in power, Trump declined to comment.
Earlier, the US military warned that civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz could be considered legitimate targets, alleging that the Iranian government was using them for military operations that threaten international shipping.
In a statement, United States Central Command accused Tehran of using civilian port infrastructure to support military activities in the strategic maritime corridor.
The conflict has also drawn criticism after reports that a US missile strike hit an elementary school in Iran during the early hours of the war. According to The New York Times, a US military investigation found that a Tomahawk missile struck the school due to a targeting error. Trump said he was unaware of the report when questioned by journalists.
Analysts say speculation is growing that Trump may seek a swift end to the conflict amid political pressure ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections.
However, Israel Katz, defense minister of Israel, said military operations would continue as long as necessary to achieve Israel’s objectives.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Wednesday that it had struck a Liberia-flagged vessel and a Thai bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz, further raising concerns over the safety of shipping through the crucial oil transit route.
