By Gloria Ogbonna
The White House announced that the United States believes it can achieve its primary military objectives in Iran within the next several weeks, signaling confidence in the progress of the ongoing campaign as President Donald Trump continues to insist that the conflict will only end with Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
During a press briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration expects the current military campaign to last roughly four to six weeks.
The conflict had entered its seventh day at the time of her remarks, and she emphasized that the administration believes its strategic goals are already beginning to materialize.
According to Leavitt, the operation has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities in a relatively short time. She pointed to the destruction of numerous Iranian naval assets and a dramatic decline in retaliatory missile strikes as evidence that the campaign is having a major impact.
“Just days into the operation, the retaliatory ballistic missile strikes from Iran have dropped by roughly 90 percent,” she said, attributing the reduction to the effectiveness of U.S. military operations targeting missile launch infrastructure and defense systems.
Leavitt also reported that more than 30 vessels belonging to the Iranian navy have been destroyed since the campaign began. As a result, she said, Iran’s naval forces are now largely unable to conduct effective combat operations in the region.
Another major development, according to the administration, is the increasing control of Iranian airspace by U.S. forces. When asked whether American forces were approaching full air superiority, Leavitt indicated that the military was moving rapidly toward that goal.
Dominance of the airspace would allow the United States and its allies to carry out more frequent and precise strikes against Iranian missile systems, weapons facilities, and other strategic targets.
The White House says the campaign’s central objectives include destroying Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, dismantling key components of its naval power, preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, and weakening networks of proxy forces across the Middle East.
Among the groups frequently cited by U.S. officials as Iranian-backed proxy organizations are Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, all of which have played roles in regional conflicts.
In addition to discussing military progress, Leavitt revealed that the U.S. government has already begun reviewing potential candidates who could lead Iran if the current regime collapses or is replaced. While she did not provide names, she confirmed that intelligence agencies and officials across the U.S. government are examining possible leadership figures who might emerge in a post-conflict political environment.
Her comments followed statements from President Trump earlier in the day suggesting that the United States intends to play a role in shaping Iran’s future leadership once the conflict concludes.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump repeated his demand that Iran surrender unconditionally before any negotiations or agreements could occur. He also suggested that once the conflict ends, the United States and its allies would help the country rebuild economically.
According to the president, after a new and acceptable leadership structure is established, the international community could work together to restore Iran’s economy and stabilize the country. Trump expressed optimism that Iran could eventually recover and become economically stronger following the conflict.
Leavitt clarified that when Trump refers to “unconditional surrender,” the administration’s interpretation centers on eliminating Iran’s ability to threaten the United States or its allies.
She explained that once Iran’s military capabilities are sufficiently degraded and the campaign’s objectives are fully achieved, the country would effectively be in a position of surrender—even if Iranian officials do not formally declare it.
Meanwhile, the administration is also taking steps to ensure that U.S. military resources remain sufficient as the operation continues. Leavitt announced that Trump planned to meet with defense industry leaders alongside Pete Hegseth to discuss expanding American weapons production.
The meeting is intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and accelerate the production of U.S.-made weapons and defense systems. According to Leavitt, the president has been pushing aggressively to increase production capabilities among American defense contractors.
Despite the intensity of the military campaign, the White House insists that the United States currently has more than enough weapons and ammunition to sustain the operation. Leavitt said American stockpiles remain strong and sufficient to achieve the objectives of the campaign and maintain readiness for other global challenges.
Earlier in the week, Defense Secretary Hegseth addressed the situation from the Pentagon, describing Iran’s military position as deteriorating rapidly under coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes.
According to Hegseth, Iran’s air defenses, missile infrastructure, and naval forces have been severely weakened. He said the combined operations have significantly disrupted Tehran’s military capabilities and are aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons.
As the conflict continues, international observers are closely monitoring the situation for signs of escalation or diplomatic resolution. With the administration projecting a relatively short campaign timeline, the coming weeks could prove decisive in determining both the outcome of the conflict and the future political landscape of Iran.
Source: Breitbart
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