Donald Trump Claims Iranian Military Command “Eliminated,” Says Operations to Continue Until Objectives Achieved

Washington, The Gulf Observer: U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s military command structure has been “completely eliminated,” asserting that many individuals within the country now wish to surrender.

In a video message, President Trump stated that U.S. forces had targeted facilities belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as well as the country’s air defense systems. He further claimed that nine naval vessels and a building associated with the Iranian navy had also been struck, adding that military operations would continue until all objectives are achieved.

The U.S. President said Washington would avenge the deaths of Americans, while acknowledging the possibility of further American casualties in the ongoing action against Iran. He warned that members of the IRGC, the Iranian military, and police forces could receive immunity if they surrendered, but would face death if they refused to lay down arms.

In a telephone interview with a British newspaper earlier, President Trump stated that the conflict with Iran could continue for up to one month. He claimed that the United States had so far killed 48 key Iranian figures.

Responding to a question about whether Saudi Arabia could also launch strikes against Iran after being targeted by missiles, President Trump said, “They are fighting, and we are fighting.” He added that while the conflict could last four weeks due to Iran being a large and powerful country, it might also conclude in a shorter period.

President Trump further remarked that developments so far had not surprised him and that operations were proceeding according to plan. He claimed that the entire Iranian leadership had been eliminated.

He described the reported deaths of U.S. troops in the current conflict as the first such losses during a war in his second presidential term, noting that no American soldiers were killed during operations related to efforts to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. President said he remains open to further negotiations with Iran but could not confirm whether talks would resume soon. He added that he has spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and several other countries, expressing hope that democracy would eventually be established in Iran and that positive developments would follow the conflict.