US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the ongoing military operation in Iran could end soon, a remark that drew a sharp response from Tehran, which asserted that it would determine when the war concludes.
Speaking at a press conference in Florida, Trump claimed that Iran’s top two tiers of leadership had been eliminated in the military operation carried out jointly by the United States and Israel.
“Look everything they have is gone including their leadership. In fact their two levels of leadership and even actually as it turns out more than that, but two levels of leadership are gone. Most people have never even heard about the leaders that they're talking about. So it's obviously been very, very powerful, very effective,” Trump said.
Responding to the remarks, Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that Tehran—not Washington—would decide when the conflict ends.
“It is we who will determine the end of the war,” the IRGC said. “The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war.”
During the briefing, Trump also alleged that Iran had been attempting to destroy Israel and "take over" the Middle East.
“So we stopped it with good timing, and we're very proud to be involved in this and it's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be, they'll be hit even harder,” he said.
Trump further claimed that the operation had been a major success in crippling Iran’s military capabilities.
“They have no navy, air force, anti-aircraft equipment—it’s all been blown up. They have no radar, telecommunications, or leadership. It’s all gone,” he said.
The US president, meanwhile, expressed displeasure over the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, suggesting that it would only prolong existing problems for the country.
"I was disappointed because we think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. I was disappointed to see their choice," he said.