Trump says there is practically nothing left to hit in Iran, but the war may be far from over
Image by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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President Trump believes the war with Iran is nearing its end because there is “practically nothing left to target,” he told Axios in a phone interview. As reported by Axios, Trump said the conflict will conclude “soon” and added, “Any time I want it to end, it will end.”
Even as Trump publicly signals that the operation has largely met its objectives, U.S. and Israeli officials have indicated there has been no internal directive on when the fighting might stop. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the war would continue “without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign.”
Officials from both countries are reportedly preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran, amid Trump war rationale questions, with Trump declining to offer a firm timeline for when the war would end. That gap between Trump’s public comments and the planning underway suggests the conflict may continue despite his confidence.
The public message does not match the planning
The conflict has seen major developments in recent days. On Tuesday, the U.S. reportedly received intelligence suggesting Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, days after missiles over Turkey.
While the exact number of mines deployed remains unclear, officials believe the assessment points to a very small quantity. Trump told Axios that U.S. strikes on Tuesday destroyed 16 mine-laying boats, disrupting Iran’s plans.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a video message on Wednesday that the U.S. military’s mission is to eliminate Iran’s ability to project power and harass shipping in the strait. He added that Iranian missile and drone attacks have declined sharply, describing a battlefield where U.S. combat power is increasing as Iran’s is falling.
Trump also expressed strong confidence in the operation, telling Axios, “The war is going great.” He said the U.S. had done more damage than expected, even within what he described as the original six-week period.
He also framed Iran’s actions as a threat extending beyond Israel and the U.S. to Gulf states across the region. In a speech on February 28 announcing the first strikes, Trump laid out four U.S. military objectives: destroying Iran’s missiles and missile industry, annihilating its navy, preventing its proxies from destabilizing the region, and ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump said he also spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. According to the president, the conversation covered the progress of the war as well as Netanyahu’s pending pardon request.
Trump separately criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog for insisting on legal procedures before acting on the request. Israeli courts have suspended all activity except emergency proceedings since the war began, meaning Netanyahu’s trial is currently on hold.
Published: Mar 12, 2026 06:15 am