Subhechcha Ganguly 
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that the ongoing war with Iran could end soon, saying the conflict would conclude “any time” he wants. In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said there was “practically nothing left to target” in Iran.
Despite Trump’s assertion that most military objectives had already been achieved, hostilities across the Middle East have continued. Earlier in the day, Israel Katz said that the joint military campaign by Israel and the United States would persist for as long as required.
According to Katz, the operation would proceed without any set timeline until all strategic goals are met. Speaking to Agence France-Presse, he said Israeli forces would keep striking targets in Tehran and other parts of the country “day after day, target after target.” He also suggested the sustained attacks could encourage Iranians to challenge the leadership of Ali Khamenei.
Trump’s latest remarks come a day after he told CBS News that the military campaign was “very complete,” claiming Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened. He said the country no longer had an effective navy, communications network or air force, and that its missile and drone capacities had been largely neutralised.
The US president also issued a stark warning to Tehran, cautioning against any further escalation. He said Iran had already launched everything it had and warned that any new aggressive move could lead to devastating consequences.
Meanwhile, Trump raised concerns over reports that mines may have been placed in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. In a post on Truth Social, he warned that if such mines were confirmed and not removed immediately, Iran could face military retaliation “at a level never seen before.”
