WASHINGTON DC: US president Donald Trump defended US military operations against Iran, describing them as necessary to “eliminate the grave threats posed to America” in his first public remarks since launching Operation Epic Fury.

Speaking at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House honoring American veterans of the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars, Trump said the campaign against the Islamic Republic could continue for four to five weeks. He added, however, that the United States has the capacity to sustain its bombardment for much longer if required.

Trump described the operation as “our last best chance to strike” what he called a “sick and sinister” regime in Tehran. The United States and Israel began bombing Iran after three rounds of nuclear negotiations — mediated by Oman — failed to produce a breakthrough.

The president argued that Iran posed an imminent threat, claiming it would “soon” possess missiles capable of reaching the US mainland. Many defense experts, however, assess that Iran remains years away from developing a missile with the range required to strike the United States.

Trump outlined four primary objectives of the campaign: dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, “annihilating” its naval forces, preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and ensuring the Iranian government can no longer “arm, fund and direct” proxy groups across the Middle East.