Kamal Ghorui
US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested ‘winding down’ US military operations in the Middle East as he listed the ‘5 objectives’ that Washington is nearing to achieve in its war in the Middle East, ruling out the possibility of a ceasefire. The announcement comes as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claimed victory over the US and Israel.In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States was close to achieving its military objectives while ruling out a ceasefire.“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he said.
What are the 5 objectives listed by Trump?
Trump further listed five main objectives that Washington aims to achieve in its war with Iran.
- Completely degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, launchers and related systems
- Destroy Iran’s defense industrial base
- Eliminate the Iranian Navy and Air Force, including anti-aircraft weaponry
- Prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability while remaining ready to respond quickly if necessary
- Protect Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others
He also indicated that responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz should shift to other nations using it, with the US providing assistance.
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Speaking at the White House alongside Senator Marco Rubio, Trump rejected calls for a ceasefire. “I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” he said. Trump further said, “I think we have won.”The remarks came as the United States deployed additional Marines to the Middle East, signalling a potential expansion of military options, though Washington maintained there are no current plans to send ground troops into Iran.
‘Enemy has been defeated’: Khamenei claims victory in ongoing war
Responding to the ongoing conflict, Mojtaba Khamenei claimed victory in a message marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz.“At the moment, due to the particular unity that has been created between you our compatriots, the enemy has been defeated,” he said.Khamenei described US and Israeli attacks as an illusion aimed at overthrowing Iran’s government and accused them of plotting attacks in Turkey and Oman to sow divisions among regional nations. “We share with neighboring countries the creed, the interests, and the confrontation against the forces of global arrogance,” he said, commending Iranians for creating strongholds across cities, neighbourhoods, and mosques.The Supreme Leader has yet to appear publicly since being named successor to his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike at the start of the war. Earlier on Friday, Iran released a video showing Mojtaba Khamenei teaching religious studies to students.Since the conflict began, more than 1,300 people have died in Iran. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, while Iranian missile attacks in Israel have claimed at least 15 lives. The United States has reported at least 13 military deaths in the ongoing hostilities.
