Iran war may end ‘pretty quickly’: What Trump told Republicans

Iran war may end ‘pretty quickly’: What Trump told Republicans

US President Donald Trump has told congressional Republicans that the war with Iran could be over “pretty quickly”, as he defended the military campaign and outlined Washington’s objectives in the conflict.

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

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The war has now entered its second week, and in his latest speech, Trump has highlighted what he described as the successes of Operation Epic Fury and suggested that it could end soon.

Here are some key takeaways from his remarks.

Trump calls Iran’s operation a ‘short-term excursion’
Trump framed the recent military action against Iran as a “little excursion” that was necessary to eliminate “some evil”.

He said that due to the incredible capabilities of the US military, this engagement would be strictly a “short-term excursion”.

While this action had caused a “little pause” in the economy, he said, it was not a big one, and the economy would quickly surge and “blow it away”.

The war will end ‘pretty quickly’
Trump also declared that the war on Iran is “going to be finished pretty quickly”.

He explained that such a rapid conclusion would be due to the highly effective and “brilliant work” of the US military, noting the following progress:

The military has already wiped out roughly “80 percent” of Iran’s missile launchers, reducing its capabilities to a “trickle”, with the remaining launchers being eliminated very quickly.
“The missiles have been largely knocked out… the drones have been knocked out, and we’re hitting where they make the drones,” he said.
He emphasised that as soon as this operation is finished, it will result in a “much safer world”.

Trump also claimed that the US military sank “46 top-of-the-line” Iranian naval ships over three and a half days.

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 had apparently asked the official. “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.”