U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday suggested a “winding down” of U.S. military operations in the Middle East as he listed “five goals” Washington is about to achieve in the Middle East war and ruled out a ceasefire. The news came as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory over the United States and Israel.Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform “Truth Social” that the United States was close to achieving its military goals but ruled out a ceasefire.“As we look at winding down our massive military efforts against the Iranian terrorist regime in the Middle East, we are very close to achieving our goals,” he said.
What are Trump’s five goals?
Trump further listed five main goals Washington hopes to achieve in a war with Iran.
- Completely degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, launchers and related systems
- Destroy Iran’s defense industrial base
- Eliminate the Iranian navy and air force, including anti-aircraft weapons
- Prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities while being prepared to respond quickly if necessary
- Protect Middle East allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc.
He also said responsibility for ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz should be transferred to other countries using the strait, with assistance from the United States.
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Trump, speaking at the White House alongside Senator Marco Rubio, rejected calls for a ceasefire. “I don’t want a ceasefire. You know, you don’t get a ceasefire when you actually eliminate the other side,” he said. Trump further said, “I think we won.”The comments came as the United States sent additional Marines to the Middle East, suggesting it may expand its military options, although Washington insisted it had no current plans to send ground troops to Iran.
‘The enemy has been defeated’: Khamenei claims victory in ongoing war
In response to the ongoing conflict, Mojtaba Khamenei declared victory in a message marking Nowruz, the Persian new year.“Currently, the enemy has been defeated thanks to the special unity established between you and our compatriots,” he said.Khamenei has described U.S. and Israeli attacks as fantasies aimed at overthrowing the Iranian government and accused them of plotting attacks on Türkiye and Oman to sow divisions among regional countries. “We share common creeds, interests and the fight against the forces of global arrogance with our neighbours,” he said, praising Iranians for establishing strongholds in cities, neighborhoods and mosques.The supreme leader has yet to make a public appearance since being named the successor to his father, Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli air strike at the start of the war. Earlier on Friday, Iran released a video showing Mojtaba Khamenei teaching religious studies to students.More than 1,300 people have died in Iran since the conflict began. In Lebanon, Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million people, while Iranian missile attacks on Israel have killed at least 15 people. The United States reports that at least 13 service members have been killed during ongoing hostilities.
