US president makes bold claim as Iran and Israel halt attacks following the region’s most serious escalation in months.
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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States expects to achieve what he described as a “total victory” over Iran within the next two weeks.
Speaking during a tele-rally for Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump said his administration had taken a tough approach and believed it was succeeding in its efforts.
The remarks came shortly after Iran and Israel announced they had suspended military attacks following a sharp escalation in regional tensions.
Earlier in the day, Iran declared an end to its strikes against Israel but warned that any further Israeli military action in Lebanon could trigger a strong response.
The latest confrontation began after Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in Beirut despite an existing ceasefire. Iran responded with missile attacks on northern Israel, prompting additional Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Trump urged both sides to stop fighting and called for an immediate ceasefire. He later stated that negotiations aimed at securing peace were progressing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fighting had stopped for the time being but warned that Israel would respond if attacked again.
Iran and Israel both indicated that they had paused military operations. However, Tehran stressed that hostilities could resume if Israel continued strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The brief escalation raised concerns about broader regional instability and threatened diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Financial markets reacted sharply to the developments. Oil prices initially surged amid fears of a wider conflict before retreating as reports of a halt in hostilities eased concerns.
Despite the temporary calm, uncertainty remains over whether the pause in fighting will lead to a lasting ceasefire or merely a short-term reduction in tens
