Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his first direct comments to reporters since the start of military operations against Iran, warning that Tehran ignored U.S. warnings and signaling that further escalation could be imminent.
Speaking Monday, Trump said Iran had been cautioned by the White House not to attempt rebuilding its nuclear program after recent U.S. strikes.
“After we destroyed the Iranian nuclear program and carried out Operation Midnight Hammer shortly before, we warned Iran against trying to rebuild the program at another site,” Trump said. “But they ignored those warnings and refused to stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons.”
The president was referring to U.S. strikes in June on three Iranian nuclear facilities, which the White House previously claimed had “completely destroyed” Tehran’s nuclear capabilities an assessment that has been closely watched by analysts.
Trump further warned that Iran already possessed missiles capable of striking Europe and U.S. bases, and could soon develop the ability to reach the American mainland.
Timeline Unclear as War Advances
Trump said the United States is “already well ahead of our expected timeline” in the conflict but declined to give a firm end date.
“Whatever time it takes is fine. Whatever it takes,” he said. “From the beginning, we expected the war to take four to five weeks, but we have the ability to continue much longer.”
Rejecting suggestions he might seek a quick exit, Trump added: “I don’t get bored. There is nothing boring about this.” Trump reiterated that he hopes the war will not be prolged but said operations are slightly ahead of schedule.
Ground Troops Not Ruled Out
In one of his most forceful signals yet, Trump refused to rule out deploying U.S. ground forces inside Iran if necessary.
“I’m not afraid to send ground troops,” he said in an interview with the New York Post. “I’m not one of those presidents who says, ‘We will not send ground troops.’ I’m not saying that.”
However, he added that such a move would “probably not” be needed unless conditions change. Trump also warned that a major new phase of the campaign could be approaching.
“We haven’t hit them hard yet. The big wave hasn’t happened yet,” he said. “The big wave is coming soon,” without providing details.
Pentagon Signals Open-Ended Options
Trump’s remarks came shortly after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said sending U.S. forces into Iran cannot be ruled out.
Asked whether American troops had already entered Iranian territory, Hegseth told reporters: “No, but we’re not going to say what we will or will not do. We will go as far as we need to go.”
He added that the conflict timeline remains fluid, saying it could last “four weeks, two weeks, six weeks — it could be more or less.”
Hegseth also sought to distinguish the current campaign from the long U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stressing that the mission is not aimed at nation-building or imposing democracy in Iran.
Tribute to Fallen U.S. Troops
Trump offered condolences to the families of four American service members killed since the conflict began, vowing the mission would continue with what he described as overwhelming force.
“In honor of their memory, we continue this mission with unwavering determination and tremendous strength to crush the danger posed by this terrorist regime to the American people,” he said.
He concluded by expressing confidence in U.S. military superiority, saying, “We have the strongest military in the world, and we will win easily.”
The latest statements underscore Washington’s increasingly hardline posture as the confrontation with Iran deepens, raising fears of a broader and potentially prolonged regional conflict.
