Trump Hints At End To Iran Conflict In New Interview

President Donald Trump signaled Wednesday that the war with Iran may be nearing its end, telling Axios the fighting will stop “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target.”

In a brief phone interview, Trump said the U.S. operation has hit its marks faster than expected and suggested the timeline is largely his call.

“Little this and that… Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said during the five-minute call.

Trump’s comments come even as U.S. and Israeli officials say there has been no formal internal directive on when strikes will stop. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz struck a far tougher tone Wednesday, saying the campaign will continue “without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign.”

Israeli and U.S. officials have indicated they are preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes. Trump did not give a specific end date.

New intelligence has also raised concerns about escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil chokepoint. Axios reported that U.S. intelligence assessed Iran had begun laying mines in the strait. Officials said it is unclear how many mines were deployed, but the assessment is that the number is small.

Trump told Axios that U.S. strikes on Tuesday destroyed 16 mine-laying boats and disrupted Iran’s plans.

The Pentagon has framed control of the strait as a central objective, arguing that Iran’s ability to harass commercial shipping is a long-standing threat to the region and the global economy.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a video message Wednesday that the mission is to eliminate Iran’s ability to project power and intimidate shipping traffic.

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“U.S. forces continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime. U.S. combat power is building, Iran’s combat power is declining,” Cooper said, adding that Iranian missile and drone attacks have declined drastically.

Trump said the operation has surpassed initial expectations.

“The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period,” Trump told Axios.

He also argued the campaign is not just about protecting Israel or U.S. assets, but about pushing back on decades of Iranian aggression across the region.

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“They were after the rest of the Middle East. They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easy,” Trump said.

Trump has floated different timelines since the opening strikes, but he has generally pointed to a roughly monthlong operation. In a Feb. 28 speech announcing the first attacks, he laid out four U.S. military objectives:

“Destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

“Annihilate their navy.”

“Ensure” that Iran’s “terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world.”

“Ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s latest remarks suggest he believes those goals are close to being achieved, and that the endgame is approaching fast. But with Israel signaling no fixed deadline and Iran still attempting retaliation, the final phase may depend less on rhetoric and more on whether Tehran can keep fighting, or whether it finally runs out of options.

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