President Trump has said the United States is considering reducing its military operations in the Middle East in relation to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday night, Trump stated that the US is “getting very close” to achieving its war objectives.
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he wrote.
According to him, the objectives include weakening Iran’s missile capabilities, dismantling its defence industrial base, eliminating its naval and air forces, reducing its nuclear capacity, and protecting American allies in the region, including Israel.
Trump’s remarks come as a second marine expeditionary unit, comprising about 2,200 marines and three warships, moves towards the Middle East.
The unit reportedly departed California earlier in the week, according to US officials cited by CBS News.
A first unit, travelling from the Pacific, is still en route to the region, while the second may take several weeks to arrive.
The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship previously deployed to Japan, is said to be part of the first group.
It is among the most advanced amphibious warships, often referred to as a “big deck”, allowing for greater capacity to carry F-35 stealth fighter jets, Ospreys, and other aircraft.
Earlier in the week, reports indicated that the Trump administration was considering deploying thousands of additional US troops as part of a potential new phase of the conflict.
However, the US president ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire with Iran.
“I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” Trump told reporters on Friday before making the Truth Social post.
When asked whether Israel would be ready to end the war at the same time, he replied: “I think so.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has said the country’s adversaries are being “defeated”.