Four, two, six weeks… Washington’s many contradictions on the duration and objectives of the war in Iran

Long one day, short the next. Donald Trump and his administration have multiplied contradictory statements on the duration of the American intervention in Iran and the objectives pursued in this conflict, ranging from regime change in Iran to securing oil supplies to the Gulf.

February 24

The American president says that his preference for the Iranian issue is a solution through “diplomacy”.

February 28

Around 2:30 a.m., Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched “major combat operations” against Iran. In a video message on his Truth Social platform, he promised to “destroy” the Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities and “bring to the ground” its navy. He also evokes a change of regime in Iran, calling on Iranians to uprising.

Later in the day he added that US strikes on Iran would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to accomplish our goal of PEACE ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD.”

1er mars

“It’s moving quickly. No one can believe our success, 48 ​​leaders were eliminated at once,” declared Donald Trump.

But in the process he mentions for the first time a timing of four weeks: “It has always been a four-week process, so – as strong as (Iran) is, the country is big, it will take four weeks or less,” declared the American president in an interview with the Daily Mail.

2 mars

Donald Trump says he does not rule out sending ground troops to Iran, “if necessary”. He adds that the military operation in Iran is “significantly ahead” of schedule, and that the United States has the capabilities for a conflict lasting “much longer” than four or five weeks.

He also specifically lists four objectives: “First, we destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities. Second, we are destroying their navy. Third, we ensure that the world’s number one supporter of terrorism can never have a nuclear weapon. Finally, we ensure that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, finance and direct terrorist armies outside its borders. »

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, for his part, refuses to broach the subject of duration. “President Trump is free to talk about how long this might or might not take. Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks. It could increase, it could decrease,” he said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for his part, claims that the United States launched its strikes on Iran “preemptively,” after learning that Israel was going to attack and that said attack would precipitate strikes by Iran against American targets.

3 mars

The US president completely contradicts Marco Rubio, insisting that it was his decision to attack, a decision arising solely from the behavior of the Iranians, independent of Israel.

“Given the way the negotiations were going, I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn’t want that to happen. So maybe I forced Israel’s hand. But Israel was ready. And we were ready,” says Donald Trump. He also claims to have “almost destroyed everything” in Iran.

5 mars

Sending ground troops to Iran would represent a “waste of time”, believes Donald Trump.

6 mars

On Truth Social, Donald Trump demands the “UNCONDITIONAL CAPITULATION” of Iran, suggesting that he wishes to be involved in the choice of the country’s future leaders.

7 mars

Donald Trump speaks of a possible future sending of ground troops to Iran to control the country’s stocks of enriched uranium: “Maybe at some point we will do it. That would be great. » The White House says the country had accumulated such stockpiles of enriched uranium that it was very close to being able to make an atomic bomb.

9 mars

Donald Trump mixes contradictory statements on the duration of the war. He first asserts that the war is “almost” over, causing an immediate decline in oil prices which had soared. The conflict is “far ahead” of the schedule of four to five weeks mentioned previously, according to him.

But on the same day, he declared before parliamentarians that the United States would not “stop until the enemy is totally and definitively defeated.” “We have already won on many fronts but we have not yet won enough,” he said.

10 mars

Secretary of State Pete Hegseth assures during a press conference that the United States continues to intensify its campaign. “Today will once again be the most intense day of strikes on Iran,” he said. He also claims that the United States is “winning” the war.

The war will not be “endless”, Pete Hegseth also promised, refusing however to talk about duration. “It’s not up to me to say whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end,” he declared, insisting that it is Donald Trump who is in control of the calendar.