Trump Says Iran War Will End 'Whenever I Want It to End'

As the U.S.-Iran war enters its second week, President Donald Trump has once again raised the possibility of an early end to the conflict. "It will end whenever I want it to end," he said on the 11th (local time) regarding the war with Iran.

Trump made the remarks in a phone interview with U.S. digital media outlet Axios, stating the war "will end soon." He added the reason was that "there are virtually no targets left to strike," noting "just a few things here and there."

Trump emphasized that "the war is going very well. We are way ahead of schedule. Even compared to what was originally planned for up to six weeks, we have inflicted more damage than expected."

Trump said, "They (Iran) had their sights on the rest of the Middle East. They are paying the price for 47 years of death and destruction they have caused. This (war) is retribution for that. They will not get off that easily."

Earlier on the 9th (local time), Trump mentioned the possibility of an early end to the war in a phone interview with CBS News, saying he believed "the war is very complete." The following day on the 10th (local time), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated during a regular briefing that "ultimately, it will end when President Trump determines that military objectives have been fully achieved and Iran is in a state of complete and unconditional surrender," suggesting the decision to end the war rests with Trump.