White House rejects claims of changing Iran war objectives
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Washington: The White House dismissed reports suggesting shifts in the Trump administration's war aims against Iran, releasing a compilation of statements from President Donald Trump and top officials to affirm consistent goals for Operation Epic Fury.
The document pulls together recent remarks by Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon leaders, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“Our objectives are clear,” Trump stated on March 2. “First, we’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities… and their capacity to produce brand new ones — pretty good ones they make. Second, we’re annihilating their navy… Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon… And finally, we’re ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”
Vance emphasized preventing Iran's nuclear development as the core aim, calling regime change incidental.
Rubio described the effort as targeting Iran's short-range ballistic missiles and navy to neutralize immediate threats.
US Central Command's Admiral Brad Cooper said the campaign aims to end Iran's half-century of threats to Americans by curbing its regional power projection.
Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby highlighted Iran's growing missile forces as a key concern, with operations focused on limiting power projection.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined the mission: “obliterate Iran’s missiles and drones and facilities that produce them, annihilate its navy and critical security infrastructure, and sever their pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran will never possess a nuclear bomb.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine specified targets: ballistic missiles, navy, and infrastructure to block threats and prevent rebuilding.
Leavitt affirmed the goals remain unchanged: annihilating the navy, eliminating missile threats, blocking nuclear weapons, and weakening proxies.
(Inputs from IANS)