Trump says Iran war to last four to five weeks but could go far longer'

"Trump said he had ordered the attack on Iran to thwart Tehran's nuclear development and a ballistic missile programme that was growing rapidly and dramatically and posed a very clear, colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas. The president asserted without evidence that Iran would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America."

"I was very proud to have knocked out the Iran nuclear deal by President Barack Hussein Obama, he said. That was a horrible, horrible, dangerous document. They would have had nuclear weapons three years ago and they would have used them. But I'll not let that happen."

"Trump said the Iranian regime had a history of attacking the US and killing Americans, including through roadside bombs. This was our last best chance to strike what we're doing right now and eliminate the threat."

President Trump provided extensive comments on the US military campaign against Iran, stating four specific goals and projecting a four to five week duration, though acknowledging it could extend longer. Trump justified the intervention that resulted in Ayatollah Khamenei's death by citing Iran's nuclear development program and rapidly expanding ballistic missile capabilities as posing a colossal threat to America and overseas forces. He claimed without evidence that Iran would soon possess missiles capable of reaching the United States and asserted other countries supported US efforts but lacked courage to say so publicly. Trump criticized the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama, calling it dangerous and claiming it would have resulted in Iranian nuclear weapons three years prior. He referenced Iran's historical attacks on Americans, including through roadside bombs, characterizing the current military action as the last best chance to eliminate the threat.

Read at www.theguardian.com