Donald Trump said on his social network Truth that the United States is close to achieving its goals in the war against Iran and is considering “ending” the military campaign.
Among the goals of the military operation, according to Trump, is the complete destruction of Iran’s missile capabilities and its defense industrial base, as well as the elimination of Iran’s naval and air forces, including its air defense systems.
In addition, Trump said, it is necessary to ensure that Iran never comes close to obtaining nuclear weapons. The US President said that another goal of the war against Iran is “to protect our allies in the Middle East at the highest level, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.”
Trump also added that security in the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed by the countries that use it. “We will help these countries,” he wrote. “But this should not be necessary once the Iranian threat is eliminated.”
The United States and Israel have been launching strikes on Iran since February 28. Iran responds by attacking US allies in the Persian Gulf, targeting, among other things, fuel and energy infrastructure. The war caused the cessation of ship movement through the Hormuz Canal, through which a quarter of the world’s oil supplies pass. Global oil and gas prices rose sharply.
The United States is expected to send new forces to the war in the Middle East in the near future. According to Axios, the US presidential administration is developing a plan to occupy or blockade the Iranian island of Kharg in the Arabian Gulf.