US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States can continue its military campaign against Iran well beyond the originally expected four to five weeks. He stated that US forces are progressing faster than planned in meeting their goals.

Speaking at the White House about the Iran-Israel conflict, Trump stressed that the operation is moving ahead of schedule.

Trump Says US Can Extend Military Operations

Trump said, “… Right from the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. Somebody said today, the President wants to do it really quickly and after that, he’ll get bored. I don’t get bored. There’s nothing boring about this… We also projected four weeks to terminate the military leadership, and as you know, that was done in about an hour, so we’re ahead of schedule there by a lot…”

He highlighted what he described as rapid success in targeting Iran’s military leadership. According to him, that objective was achieved much faster than expected.

Diplomatic Efforts With Iran Failed

Trump said attempts to reach an agreement with Tehran did not succeed. He claimed negotiations repeatedly broke down.

“We thought we had a deal, but then they (Iran) backed out. Then they came back, and we thought we had a deal, and they backed out. I said, you can’t deal with these people. You’ve got to do it the right way.”

He suggested that military action became necessary after diplomatic efforts collapsed.

Tribute to Fallen American Service Members

The president also honoured four US troops who lost their lives in the conflict.

“Today, we grieve for the four heroic American service members who have been killed in action. In their memory, we continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people. We have the strongest and most powerful by far military in the world, and we will easily prevail. We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections. Right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks. But we have capability to go far longer than that…,” he said.

He reaffirmed that the United States would press forward with determination.

Conflict Rooted in Decades of Hostility

Trump described the current military action as the result of long-standing tensions with Iran.

“For almost 47 years, this (Iranian) regime has been attacking the United States and killing Americans… General Soleimani, who was the father of the roadside bomb. I terminated him in my first term. This was our last best chance to strike what we’re doing right now and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” the President said.

He referred to the killing of Qasem Soleimani during his earlier term in office.

Clear Military Objectives Outlined

Trump laid out the main goals of the US campaign.

“Our objectives are clear. First, we’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities… Second, we’re annihilating their Navy. We’ve knocked out already 10 ships. They’re at the bottom of the sea. Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon. I said that from the beginning- they’re never going to have a nuclear weapon… And finally, we’re ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders…”

He said the US aims to eliminate Iran’s missile systems, weaken its naval forces, block nuclear development, and stop support for armed groups abroad.

Missile Programme Seen as Direct Threat

Trump warned that Iran’s expanding ballistic missile programme posed a serious risk to the United States and its allies.

“In addition, the (Iranian) regime’s conventional ballistic missile program was growing rapidly and dramatically, and this posed a very clear, colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas. The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America. The purpose of this fast-growing missile program was to shield their nuclear weapon development and make it extraordinarily difficult for anyone to stop them from making these highly forbidden by us nuclear weapons…,” said Trump.

He argued that the missile programme was designed to protect Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Nuclear Deal Criticism

Trump also criticised the nuclear agreement negotiated during the administration of Barack Obama.

“An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people. Our country itself would be under threat, and it was very nearly under threat. I was very proud to have knocked out the Iran nuclear deal by President Obama… They would have had nuclear weapons three years ago, and they would have used them. But I’ll not let that happen…”

He claimed that withdrawing from the deal prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and said he would not allow that outcome under his leadership.

Overall, Trump presented the conflict as a strategic mission moving faster than expected, with the US prepared to continue operations as long as necessary.