US President Donald Trump has set out four objectives in the escalating conflict with Iran, warning that “the big wave” of strikes is still to come.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the US aims to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles and production capability, “annihilate” its navy, prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and stop it from arming proxy militant groups.
On missile strikes, he said: “You see that happening on an hourly basis.” He also claimed ten Iranian naval vessels had already been “knocked out” and were “at the bottom of the sea”.
While he did not explicitly call for regime change, he told CNN “yes” when asked if the US was doing more to help the Iranian people regain control of their country.
He warned further escalation was imminent: “We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “The hardest hits are yet to come.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted: “This is not a so-called regime change war.”
The conflict has widened across the region, with reported casualties in Iran and further strikes involving Israel and allied groups.
Source: ABC News
