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President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States will continue military operations against Iran until all objectives are met and acknowledged that additional American casualties are likely as the conflict unfolds.
In remarks following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Trump said U.S. forces and partner nations had struck hundreds of targets across Iran over the past 36 hours.
“We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including revolutionary guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems,” President Trump said, adding that nine ships and a naval facility had been destroyed.
He blamed Iran’s leadership, including the late Ali Khamenei, for what he described as the deaths of “countless thousands of innocent people.”
“The entire military command is gone as well and many of them want to surrender,” the president said. “Combat operations continue at this time in full force and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
President Trump also addressed American losses, honoring service members killed in the fighting and signaling that further casualties could occur.
“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation even as we continue the righteous mission for which we gave their lives,” he said. “Sadly, there will likely be more.”
The president also stated that the conflict with Iran is expected to continue for about four weeks.
“It’s always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four-week process so — as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks — or less,” the Daily Mail quoted President Trump as saying.
The president told the newspaper he remained open to more talks with the Iranians, but did not say if that would happen “soon.”
“I don’t know,” President Trump said, according to the report. “They want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week, not this week,” he added.