Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump declared that the United States is “closer than ever” to achieving its strategic goal of permanently eliminating the Iranian threat from the Middle East. Trump asserted that ongoing military operations have successfully targeted Tehran’s manufacturing infrastructure. He also stated that the US is “now systematically and unprecedentedly destroying Iran’s missile stockpile and defense industrial base.”
Ending “nuclear blackmail” by force of arms
The US president emphasized that the United States’ overwhelming military power is the only guarantee for ending what he called “nuclear blackmail” and the influence of the extremist regime. Trump stated unequivocally, “We have the strongest military in the world, and we are using this power to stop the Iranian regime and destroy its capabilities that have threatened the stability of the region for decades.” He added that Washington is putting a definitive end to Tehran’s attempts to impose its will through military force.
Tehran is no longer the regional “bully”.
In an assessment of the new geopolitical landscape, Trump pointed to the shifting balance of power in the region, stating, “Iran has been the bully of the Middle East for many years, but it is no longer and will never be again.” Observers believe that Trump’s remarks about destroying Iran’s “defense industrial base” indicate a shift from a policy of deterrence to one of “structural dismantling” Iran’s military capabilities. This shift would prevent Iran from rebuilding its missile or drone arsenal in the near future. These statements come amidst an escalation in airstrikes targeting military research centers and missile launch sites within Iran. This reflects a US approach aimed at establishing a new reality that definitively ends Iranian threats to international waterways and neighboring countries.
