(4th LD) Trump says Iran operation projected to last 4-5 weeks, stresses U.S. capability to go 'far longer'

▲ U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about Iran before a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House in Washington on March 2, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

(4th LD) Trump-Iran operation

(4th LD) Trump says Iran operation projected to last 4-5 weeks, stresses U.S. capability to go 'far longer'

(ATTN: UPDATES with Rubio's remarks in paras 11-15)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration projected the ongoing military operation against Iran to last four to five weeks, while highlighting America's capability to "go far longer than that."

Trump made the remarks during an event awarding the Medal of Honor to three U.S. Army soldiers, after the United States and Israel launched a surprise coordinated attack on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, which resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have (the) capability to go far longer than that," he said of the operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury."

He reiterated that the United States has the "strongest and most powerful" military in the world.

"We will easily prevail ... already substantially ahead of our time projections," he said. "But whatever the time is, it's okay."

Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a press conference that the military operation against Tehran would not end up being "endless," but achieving America's combat objectives would not happen "overnight," as he referred to the conflict as a "big battle space."

Trump specified "clear" objectives of the military operation, which are destroying Iran's missile capabilities, "annihilating" Iran's Navy and ensuring that Iran, which he called the "world's No. 1 sponsor of terror," can never obtain a nuclear weapon.

"And finally, we are ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders," he said.

In an interview with The New York Post, Trump said that he is not ruling out sending U.S. ground troops into Iran "if they were necessary."

"I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground -- like every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump was quoted by The Post as saying. "I say 'probably don't need them,' (or) 'if they were necessary.'"

During a press availability, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the president will never rule out anything.

"We believe the objective that we have set for this mission, which is the destruction of the ballistic missile capabilities -- both launch capability and manufacturing (capability) -- can be achieved without ground forces," he said.

"Right now, we are not postured for ground forces, but obviously the president has those options," he added, reiterating the current focus on the destruction of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities.

The secretary also pointed out, "The hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military."

"The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now," he said, underscoring that the U.S. will carry out the operation "as long as it takes to achieve those objectives."

Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on social media that while the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman two days ago, it has now "zero," as the command highlighted progress in the U.S. military operation against Tehran.

"The Iranian regime has harassed and attacked international shipping in the Gulf of Oman for decades," it wrote on X. "Those days are over. Freedom of maritime navigation has underpinned American and global economic prosperity for more than 80 years. U.S. forces will continue to defend it."

As of 4 p.m. (Washington time), six U.S. troops have been killed in action during the operation against Iran, according to CENTCOM. The Iranian Red Crescent reportedly said more than 550 people had been killed in Iran.

"Major combat operations continue," CENTCOM wrote on X. "The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification."

(END)

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