Trump projects war on Iran could last ‘four to five weeks’

President Donald Trump, in his first public comments since unleashing Operation Epic Fury, defended U.S. military operations against Iran as necessary to “eliminate the grave threats posed to America.”

The president, speaking Monday at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony recognizing American veterans from the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan, estimated the attacks on the Islamic Republic could last four to five weeks. But he insisted the U.S. has the capability to extend its bombardment far longer.

Trump argued the operation was “our last best chance to strike” the Iranian regime, which he described as “sick and sinister.”

The U.S. and Israel bombed Iran after three rounds of nuclear negotiations, mediated by Oman, failed to produce a breakthrough. The regime in Tehran, Trump said, posed an imminent threat to the U.S. because it would “soon” have missiles capable of reaching “our beautiful America.” Many experts, however, believe Iran is years away from developing a missile with the range necessary to hit the United States.

Trump set forth four objectives of the war: destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, “annihilating” its navy, preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring the “Iranian regime” cannot continue to “arm, fund and direct” its proxy groups elsewhere in the Middle East, sometimes collectively known as the Axis of Resistance.

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday the U.S. is sending additional troops and fighter jets to the Middle East to strengthen its military posture. Caine declined to provide specifics on the size of the deployment.

“We are just about where we want to be in terms of total combat capacity and total combat power,” he said.

As the conflict escalated, a fourth American service member was killed in action , U.S. Central Command announced Monday. The identities of all the deceased troops are being withheld until after next of kin notifications are complete, CENTCOM said.

Trump’s administration acknowledged the war could result in further American casualties . In his speech Monday, the president expressed condolences to the families of the fallen.

“Today, we grieve for the four heroic American service members who have been killed in action and send our love and support to their families,” Trump said. “In their memory, we continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people.”

Tanya Noury is a reporter for Military Times and Defense News, with coverage focusing on the White House and Pentagon.

在发动“史诗狂怒行动”后首次公开表态时，唐纳德·特朗普总统为美国针对伊朗的军事行动辩护，称其对于“消除对美国构成的严重威胁”是必要的。

总统周一在白宫举行的表彰越南战争和阿富汗战争美国老兵的荣誉勋章授予仪式上发表讲话时估计，对伊斯兰共和国的袭击可能会持续四到五周。但他坚称，美国有能力将轰炸持续时间延长得多。

特朗普辩称，这次行动是“我们打击”伊朗政权的“最后也是最好的机会”，他称伊朗政权“病态而邪恶”。

在阿曼斡旋的三轮核谈判未能取得突破后，美国和以色列对伊朗发动了轰炸。特朗普称，德黑兰政权对美国构成迫在眉睫的威胁，因为它“很快”就会拥有能够打击“我们美丽的美国”的导弹。然而，许多专家认为，伊朗距离研制出射程足以打击美国的导弹还有数年之遥。

特朗普提出了这场战争的四个目标：摧毁伊朗的导弹能力，“歼灭”其海军，阻止德黑兰获得核武器，并确保“伊朗政权”不能继续“武装、资助和指挥”其在中东其他地区的代理组织，这些组织有时被统称为“抵抗轴心”。

美国参谋长联席会议主席丹·凯恩将军周一告诉记者，美国将向中东增派部队和战斗机，以加强其军事态势。凯恩拒绝透露此次部署的具体规模。

他说：“就总作战能力和总作战力量而言，我们已经基本达到了我们想要的水平。”

随着冲突升级，美国中央司令部周一宣布，第四名美军士兵在战斗中阵亡。中央司令部表示，所有阵亡士兵的身份信息将在通知完所有家属后公布。

特朗普政府承认这场战争可能导致更多美军人员伤亡。总统在周一的讲话中向阵亡将士家属表示慰问。

“今天，我们为四位在战斗中牺牲的英勇美国军人感到悲痛，并向他们的家人致以最深切的慰问和支持，”特朗普说。“为了纪念他们，我们将继续以无比坚定的决心，粉碎这个恐怖政权对美国人民构成的威胁。”

Tanya Noury 是《军事时报》和《防务新闻》的记者，她的报道主要集中在白宫和五角大楼。