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- Trump: U.S. has 'Nothing Left to Target' in Iran
US President Donald Trump leaves after a press conference at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2026. ©SAUL LOEB / AFP
Conflicting signals emerged Wednesday over the trajectory of the war between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli alliance, as leaders in Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv offered different assessments of how long the conflict could last.
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the campaign could end soon, saying American forces have largely exhausted their list of targets inside Iran.
“There is practically nothing left to target,” Trump said in an interview with Axios, adding that the war could end “soon” and that the decision ultimately rests with him.
“Any time I want it to end, it will end,” the president said.
Trump’s remarks come amid growing domestic pressure inside the United States over the economic consequences of the war and its impact on global energy markets.
Israel Signals No Time Limit
In contrast, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the joint campaign against Iran would proceed “without a time limit” until its strategic objectives are achieved.
“This operation will continue as long as necessary until we accomplish all our goals,” Katz said, adding that Israeli forces would keep striking targets across Iran “day after day, target after target.”
Katz also suggested that the sustained military pressure could eventually encourage internal political change in Iran.
Diverging Assessments Inside Washington
Despite Trump’s public comments about a possible quick end to the war, Israeli officials believe the United States has not yet decided to halt the campaign, according to Israeli sources cited by Reuters.
One senior Israeli official said discussions in Washington indicate that a directive to end military operations does not appear imminent.
Reports cited by Al-Arabiya also suggest internal disagreements within the Trump administration over the next phase of the war.
Furthermore, according to sources cited by the U.S. outlet Al-Monitor, American officials are debating whether to intensify the military campaign or begin searching for a diplomatic exit strategy.
Iran Warns of Long “War of Attrition”
Tehran on its end signaled that it expects a prolonged confrontation.
An advisor to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the conflict could turn into a long war of attrition against the United States and Israel.
“They must consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition,” said Ali Fadavi, speaking on Iranian state television.
Fadavi claimed such a scenario could gradually erode U.S. military capabilities and inflict significant economic damage on Washington and its allies.
Iran has already launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf infrastructure since the conflict began in response to the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian territory in late February.
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