U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he departs the White House for Florida, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump declared the United States is "getting very close to meeting our objectives" in the Middle East regarding Iran, signaling a potential wind-down of military operations.
Trump outlined on his Truth Social platform five primary goals for the campaign:
- "Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them."
- "Destroying Iran's Defense Industrial Base."
- "Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry."
- "Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place."
- "Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others."
Trump also addressed the strategic Hormuz Strait, stating that responsibility for its security should fall to other nations that rely on it. "The United States does not!" he emphasized, while adding that America would assist if requested.
The president characterized the operation as straightforward for allied nations, calling it "an easy Military Operation for them."
