Washington, United States. The United States expects to achieve its core military objectives in Iran within four to six weeks, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said on Friday. She also said Washington was gaining control over Iranian airspace during the ongoing conflict.
Timeline for stated objectives
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Levitt said American operations were progressing according to plan and that Washington’s goals were considered attainable within a short timeframe. She said the United States was “well on its way to controlling Iranian airspace” and that “achievable American objectives” could be completed within “four to six weeks”.
Discussions on Iran’s leadership
Levitt confirmed discussions were underway in Washington about potential leadership scenarios in Iran, following remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States should play a role in determining the country’s future leadership. Levitt said intelligence agencies and the US government were looking at “a number of people” but declined to provide details.
Trump earlier indicated Iran’s next leader was unlikely to be the son of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a strike at the outset of the war and had been widely viewed as a leading successor candidate.
Position on negotiations
Trump ruled out negotiations with Tehran unless Iran capitulates completely, saying, “There will be no deal short of unconditional surrender.” Levitt later said the administration’s position reflects the military objectives of the campaign.
She said that when the president, as commander in chief, determines that Iran is no longer a threat to the United States and the objectives of Operation Epic Fury have been fully achieved, “then Iran will essentially be in a position of unconditional surrender, whether they say so themselves or not.”
How do you assess the White House’s stated timeline for achieving its objectives in Iran?