Trump signals U.S. prepared for prolonged war against Iran, says campaign could extend beyond initial four to five week projection

President Trump said Monday that the United States would continue attacking Iran for as long as necessary to render it incapable of posing a threat, indicating the expanding military campaign could persist for weeks or longer.

"Whatever the time is, it's OK, whatever it takes," Trump said at a White House event, offering his first public comments on the war since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began Saturday. "Right from the beginning we projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it."

In a nine-minute telephone interview with CNN, Trump stated that the U.S. is "giving a beating" to Iran and that a "great wave" of attacks remains forthcoming. "We haven't even started hitting them hard. The great wave hasn't even come yet. The great wave is coming soon," he said, adding that he does not exclude the possibility of deploying U.S. ground troops if necessary, though he suggested such action may not be required.

Trump said the operation is "significantly ahead of schedule" after three days of strikes. He stated that 49 Iranian leaders have been eliminated, claiming that Iranians no longer know who leads the country. "They don't know who's in charge. It's a bit like a line for unemployment," he said.

The president reiterated that Iran poses what he characterized as a "colossal threat" to the United States and its forces stationed overseas. He claimed that U.S. strikes on Iran in June of last year resulted in the "obliteration of Iran's nuclear programme," and said Iran's ballistic missile programme was "growing rapidly and dramatically."

Trump stated he does not wish for the conflict to extend indefinitely. "I don't want to see this lasting a long time. I always thought it would be four weeks, and we're a little ahead of schedule," he said. He added that the U.S. has "the best military in the world" and is deploying it effectively.

The Trump administration has offered varying rationales and expectations for the campaign. While signaling U.S. readiness for an extended conflict, Trump has also urged the Iranian people to rise up against their government. He stated that the U.S. will take action to help Iranians retake control of their country, but advised that people should remain indoors for now as conditions are unsafe.