Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the most forceful phase of America’s military campaign against Iran is still to come, warning that a “big wave” of action remains ahead even as fresh explosions were reported near Iran’s nuclear complex in Isfahan.
The remarks follow confirmed American casualties and a dramatic escalation in hostilities across West Asia. Trump vowed retaliation for the deaths of U.S. service members, while signalling that Washington remains open to dialogue with Iran’s new leadership.
The conflict entered a new chapter after a joint U.S.–Israel strike reportedly eliminated several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reshaping Tehran’s political hierarchy.
‘We Didn’t Start It, But We’re Finishing It’
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the military campaign, stating that Washington was responding to decades of aggression.
“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing. He accused the Iranian regime of waging a “savage, one-sided war against America” for nearly five decades, citing past attacks on U.S. personnel, embassies, ships and troops in West Asia.
Hegseth said the objective of the current operations is to dismantle Iran’s military leadership and degrade its strategic capabilities, arguing that recent strikes were designed to neutralise long-standing threats.
Trump: ‘We Can Go Far Longer’
Speaking at the White House, Trump asserted that the United States has the capacity to sustain operations well beyond the initially projected four to five weeks.
“Right from the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that,” he said, dismissing suggestions that the campaign would be short-lived. “There’s nothing boring about this.”
Trump also claimed U.S. forces were ahead of schedule in meeting key objectives. “We projected four weeks to terminate the military leadership, and that was done in about an hour,” he said, referring to the swift elimination of top Iranian commanders.
Operation Epic Fury Expands
Under Operation Epic Fury, the United States has launched one of its most technologically advanced military offensives in recent years.
Stealth B-2 Spirit bombers struck hardened underground facilities, deploying heavy bunker-busting munitions against missile and command infrastructure. U.S. Navy vessels fired Tomahawk cruise missiles deep inside Iranian territory in coordinated waves.
Advanced fighter aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Super Hornet, conducted precision air-to-ground strikes and suppression of enemy air defences.
The Precision Strike Missile made its combat debut, launched from the M142 HIMARS, significantly extending U.S. battlefield reach. Armed MQ-9 Reaper drones and the newly deployed LUCAS loitering munition system have also been used against high-value targets.
Rising Regional Tensions
The scale and sophistication of the offensive signal a sharp escalation in West Asia, with growing fears of a prolonged and wider confrontation. Energy markets remain volatile, and diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further spillover.
Yet with Trump insisting the “big wave” is still ahead and U.S. officials signalling determination to press forward, the conflict appears set to intensify before any resolution emerges.
