HIBAPRESS – Agencies
US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States is "close" to achieving its goals in Iran, and intends to gradually reduce its military operations against the Iranian regime.
The US President wrote on his social media platform (Truth Social): "We are on the verge of achieving our goals, at a time when we intend to gradually reduce our important military efforts in the Middle East against the Iranian terrorist regime." Among these goals, the resident of the White House recalled, in particular, the complete destruction of Iran's ballistic capabilities and its defense industrial base, as well as the destruction of the Iranian naval and air forces, including anti-aircraft weapons. This also concerns, according to President Trump, preventing Iran from coming "even slightly" close to developing nuclear capabilities, and protecting US allies in the Middle East, at the highest level. On the other hand, the head of the US executive branch highlighted that "the Strait of Hormuz must be monitored and controlled, if necessary, by other countries that use it, which does not apply to the United States." The US President ruled out, on Friday, any possibility of a ceasefire with Iran, stressing that the US military is in the process of neutralizing its opponent. He told reporters, before leaving the White House for Florida: "I don't want a ceasefire. A ceasefire is not implemented when you are in the process of eliminating the opponent." US media reported on the same day that the US military would deploy additional forces in the Middle East, belonging to the Marine Corps. US media had announced last week the deployment of three ships and 2,500 Marines in the Middle East, who were stationed in Japan.
