(LEAD) U.S. expects it will take 4 to 6 weeks to achieve 'achievable' Iran operation objectives: White House

▲ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters at the White House in Washington on March 6, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) White House-Iran conflict

(LEAD) U.S. expects it will take 4 to 6 weeks to achieve 'achievable' Iran operation objectives: White House

(ATTN: ADDS CENTCOM statement in last 2 paras)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Yonhap) -- The United States expects it to take four to six weeks to meet "achievable objectives" of its military operation against Iran, the White House said Friday, underscoring that the U.S. is "well on its way" toward the objectives.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made the remarks during a press availability at the White House, as the U.S. operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," entered its seventh day, seeking to dismantle Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and its Navy, and sever its pathway to nuclear weapons.

"What I will tell you is what President Trump has already laid out, which is that the achievable objectives of Operation Epic Fury we expect to last about four to six weeks, and we are well on our way to achieving those objectives," she said.

Leavitt pointed out that the U.S. has so far sunk dozens of 30 Iranian vessels during the operation, claiming that the Islamic Republic's Navy has now been deemed "combat ineffective." She also stressed that the U.S. has done a "tremendous" job taking out Iran's ballistic missile threat.

In addition, she noted President Donald Trump's interest in Iran's leadership selection process after the campaign of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Of course, it's in the best interest of the United States of America for Iran to no longer be led by a radical terrorist regime that chants death to America, and is lying to the U.S. and the world about their secret ambitions to possess a nuclear bomb," she said.

"President Trump does not want to see that. He wants to take an interest in pursuing who the next leader of the Iranian country is going to be, and that has yet to be seen, and the president is discussing it and deliberating it."

In recent interviews with Axios and Reuters, Trump also said that he should have a role in selecting Iran's next leader, calling Mojtaba Khamenei -- a son of the deceased former supreme leader -- "unacceptable."

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a social media post that the U.S. military has struck over 3,000 targets, and damaged or destroyed 43 Iranian ships during its operation against Iran that kicked off on Feb. 28. It has mobilized a series of formidable military assets, including B-1 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers and F-35 stealth fighter jets.

In a statement, CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said that the Iranian regime has attacked 12 different countries and continues to "deliberately" target civilians throughout the Middle East, warning that the attacks "will not go unanswered."

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