By Travis Gillmore
President Donald Trump on Friday signaled that an end to the Iran war is fast approaching.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He listed five objectives that are nearing completion, including the degradation of Iran’s missile systems, the destruction of the nation’s defense production, the elimination of its Navy and Air Force, preventing the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, and protecting neighboring countries, including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and others.
The president said assistance from allies will be needed to protect the Strait of Hormuz after the United States departs.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” Trump wrote. “If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.”
The president said that protecting the shipping lane, vital to the globe’s energy supply, would amount to “an easy military operation.”
Trump told an audience in the White House earlier in the day that Operation Epic Fury, launched on Feb. 28, is a resounding success.
“We’re doing extremely well in Iran,” Trump said. “They have no Navy anymore … and we have the greatest Navy anywhere in the world, and it’s not even close.”
Joint Israeli and U.S. operations have severely degraded Iran’s Navy, Air Force, radar, and anti-aircraft defense systems.
“Their leaders are all gone,” Trump said. “The next set of leaders are all gone, and the next set of leaders are mostly gone, and now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore.”
“Even now, over the past few weeks, the world has seen the true strength and might of our sailors and aviators as they fought in one of the most complex and successful military operations of all time against the Iranian regime.”
His comments come a day after he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the Executive Mansion to discuss the war, among other matters.
The president vowed during the bilateral talks to “not send troops anywhere,” though he added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not putting troops [in the region].”
Thirteen U.S. service members lost their lives since fighting erupted.
