Trump says Iran war may last weeks, but warns it could stretch much longer

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Washington: Donald Trump has said the US military campaign against Iran was initially expected to last four to five weeks, but warned it could continue “far longer” if necessary.

Speaking on Monday, the US president delivered his most detailed public remarks so far on the conflict, outlining what he described as four key objectives while defending the decision to launch the operation.

Trump said the United States had intervened to stop Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which he claimed posed a “colossal threat” to the US and its forces stationed overseas. He also said the campaign aimed to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, eliminate its naval power, prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and stop the country from supporting militant groups in the region.

The president asserted, without providing evidence, that Iran was close to developing missiles capable of reaching the United States a claim disputed by national security experts.

During his remarks, Trump also said the operation had already exceeded initial expectations in terms of progress, but stressed that Washington was prepared for a longer conflict.

“We projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that,” he said.

Trump justified Saturday’s strike, which he said resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the action as the “last best chance” to eliminate what he called an intolerable threat from the Iranian regime.

He also criticised the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, saying he was proud to have dismantled the deal under former president Barack Obama, and argued that Iran would otherwise have obtained nuclear weapons years ago.

Trump said four US service members had been killed so far during the fighting and pledged to continue the campaign with what he described as “unyielding resolve”.