Objectives in Iran Near Completion, Terrorist Nation 'Bully No Longer'
During an address from the White House last night, President Donald J. Trump told Americans that the U.S. military, as part of Operation Epic Fury, was nearing completion of operational objectives in Iran.
Over the next few weeks, the president said, the U.S. would intensify operations in Iran, permanently disabling its ability to project power outside its own borders and to keep it from ever having a nuclear weapon.
"I've made clear from the beginning of Operation Epic Fury that we will continue until our objectives are fully achieved," he said. "I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly. We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks — we're going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong."
The United States kicked off combat operations against Iran Feb. 28, with specific goals: destroy Iranian offensive missiles and missile production, destroy the Iranian navy and other security infrastructure, and ensure that Iran never has nuclear weapons.
Trump told the nation that the U.S. military has been masterful in how it has decimated one Iranian military capability after another.
"We are systematically dismantling the regime's ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders," the president said.
"That means eliminating Iran's navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their air force and their missile program at levels never seen before, and annihilating their defense industrial base. We've done all of it; their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their missiles are just about used up or beaten."
Pentagon News
Summary:
Strait of Hormuz: Who Will Protect It?
With Iran blocking shipping in the Strait of Hormuz by attacking tankers, President Donald Trump made a blunt point: the United States imports almost no oil through that route and can manage without it. He urged the countries that rely on the strait to take the lead in protecting it, offering U.S. help but insisting they should bear responsibility for securing their own lifeline.
Military Pressure Will Continue If Talks Stall
The President said negotiations are ongoing while warning that strikes will intensify if no deal is reached. He threatened coordinated attacks on Iran’s electric generating infrastructure and emphasized that the military retains many options, including hitting key targets simultaneously to prevent any chance of quick recovery.
Pulling Back Troops and Forcing Allies to ActTrump signaled he could begin withdrawing U.S. forces from the region and leave enforcement of the shipping lanes to Europe, Asia, and Gulf partners if they refuse to step up. That is consistent with his repeated message that American security is paramount but that allies must share burdens when their economies depend on free passage.
Economic Strength and Energy Independence
The President used the U.S. energy boom as leverage, saying America produces ample oil and gas and can sell to partners who need supply. He argued that U.S. energy independence makes the country less vulnerable to disruptions caused by hostile regimes and gives the administration room to use sanctions and military force without risking domestic shortages. Source:Page Traveler
