President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that the US war on Iran could end soon, claiming there is “practically nothing left to target” in the country.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said, “Any time I want it to end, it will end,” reiterating comments he made on Monday that the conflict could conclude “soon.”
The remarks come amid mounting domestic criticism and concerns over the global economic impact of the US-Israeli operation against Iran. Trump faces pressure over allegations that the White House initiated the conflict without sufficient preparation for potential consequences, including Iranian threats to oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts suggest the president may be seeking a swift resolution to mitigate political damage ahead of the November midterm elections.
Despite Trump’s statements, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that “this operation will continue without any time limit, as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives.”
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Iran has also signaled readiness for prolonged resistance. Ali Fadavi, an advisor to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, warned that the United States and Israel “should consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy and the world economy, and will cause all of its military capabilities to be eroded to the point of destruction.”
On Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guards reported striking a Liberia-flagged vessel and a Thai bulk carrier in the Hormuz maritime chokepoint, underscoring ongoing tensions in the region.