U.S. to intensify strikes in Iran military operation, Trump says

Washington has carried out a military operation against Iran to eliminate a “serious threat” and plans to increase pressure in the coming weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an address to the nation.

“We had to carry out this operation to get rid of this threat,” Trump said.

He added that the United States was close to achieving its military objectives.

“We are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives very soon,” Trump said, adding that strikes would be “extremely intense” over the next two to three weeks.

Trump also said that regime change in Iran had not been a U.S. objective.

However, he added that “regime change has effectively occurred” due to the deaths of key Iranian leaders. There has been no independent confirmation of this claim.

According to Trump, diplomatic contacts are continuing in parallel.

The U.S. president also said the economy remains strong, citing tax cuts and rising incomes.

N.Tebrizli