President Donald Trump on Thursday struck an unusually definitive tone on the U.S. campaign against Iran, suggesting that the military operation is approaching a conclusion.
Speaking to reporters, Trump made clear he sees the current trajectory as unsustainable, saying flatly that Tehran “can’t go much longer.” The remark marked one of his clearest public acknowledgments that the conflict has reached a critical inflection point.
The President framed the intervention as a necessary measure to neutralize what he called an existential threat. “When I started the very important excursion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, it was a very important excursion because they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “We’re not gonna let that happen. Not only us, not only the Middle East, the whole world would have been… It would have been catastrophic. We had no choice.”
On the diplomatic front, Trump offered cautious optimism regarding negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which nearly a fifth of global oil passes. While stopping short of confirming a breakthrough, he indicated progress: “I think we are doing very well. I am involved in the negotiations. I think we are doing fine… it could be soon.”
Still, there are signs of strain. Trump acknowledged that U.S. military supplies have been tested by the prolonged engagement. He described America’s arsenal as having an “unlimited, virtual unlimited supply” of certain weapon systems, but conceded that for “others where it’s a little bit tighter.”
The comments come as the administration faces growing questions about both the duration and the endgame of the conflict. Trump appeared to brush aside those concerns, reiterating his belief that a resolution is within reach. “I think the war’s got to end pretty soon,” he said, adding that he expects to see positive results “as soon as the war ends.”
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