{"id":75021,"date":"2026-03-02T20:52:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T20:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/03\/02\/trump-projects-war-on-iran-could-last-four-to-five-weeks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:02:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:02:23","slug":"trump-projects-war-on-iran-could-last-four-to-five-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2026\/03\/02\/trump-projects-war-on-iran-could-last-four-to-five-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump projects war on Iran could last \u2018four to five weeks\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Donald Trump, in his first public comments since unleashing Operation Epic Fury, defended U.S. military operations against Iran as necessary to \u201celiminate the grave threats posed to America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president, speaking Monday at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony recognizing American veterans from the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan, estimated the attacks on the Islamic Republic could last four to five weeks. But he insisted the U.S. has the capability to extend its bombardment far longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump argued the operation was \u201cour last best chance to strike\u201d the Iranian regime, which he described as \u201csick and sinister.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. and Israel bombed Iran<\/a> after three rounds of nuclear negotiations, mediated by Oman, failed to produce a breakthrough. The regime in Tehran, Trump said, posed an imminent threat to the U.S. because it would \u201csoon\u201d have missiles capable of reaching \u201cour beautiful America.\u201d Many experts, however, believe Iran is years away from developing a missile with the range necessary to hit the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump set forth four objectives of the war: destroying Iran\u2019s missile capabilities, \u201cannihilating\u201d its navy, preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring the \u201cIranian regime\u201d cannot continue to \u201carm, fund and direct\u201d its proxy groups elsewhere in the Middle East, sometimes collectively known as the Axis of Resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday the U.S. is sending additional troops and fighter jets to the Middle East<\/a> to strengthen its military posture. Caine declined to provide specifics on the size of the deployment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are just about where we want to be in terms of total combat capacity and total combat power,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\t