President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States continues to conduct “large-scale combat operations in Iran,” adding that the projected timeline for Operation Epic Fury remains four to five weeks — though he claimed U.S. forces are already ahead of schedule.
The president delivered the update while opening a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, shifting briefly from the solemn occasion to address the ongoing military campaign.
“Today, the United States military continues to carry out large-scale combat operations in Iran to eliminate the grave threats posed to America by this terrible terrorist regime,” Trump said.
According to the president, Iran ignored prior warnings to halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons following U.S. strikes in June on key nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan under what he described as Operation Midnight Hammer.
“In addition, the regime’s conventional ballistic missile program was growing rapidly and dramatically, and this posed a very clear, colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas,” Trump said.
He added that Iran already possessed missiles capable of striking Europe and U.S. bases abroad and was nearing the ability to reach the American homeland.
“The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America,” he said.
Trump argued that Iran’s expanding missile arsenal was designed to shield its nuclear development efforts and make it difficult for outside powers to stop what he described as highly forbidden nuclear weapons ambitions.
The president outlined the objectives of Operation Epic Fury as dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, destroying its navy, preventing Iran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons, and neutralizing its ability to sponsor terrorism.
Trump acknowledged that four American servicemembers were killed in action in recent days, saying the nation grieves their loss.
He emphasized that while planners initially projected a four-to-five-week campaign, the administration believes it is “substantially ahead” of schedule.
“We also projected four weeks to terminate the military leadership, and as you know, that was done in about an hour,” Trump said.
He concluded by thanking American service members currently deployed, calling them “incredible” and praising their courage.
