The United States expects its core military objectives in Iran to be achieved within four to six weeks as part of the ongoing campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, the White House said on Friday, signalling that the conflict in West Asia may continue for several more weeks.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington that the US military had already made significant progress in degrading Iran’s military capabilities. The campaign, launched jointly by the United States and Israel, has targeted Iranian military installations, missile facilities and leadership compounds across the country.

The conflict escalated sharply after large-scale strikes inside Iran killed several senior figures, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting US military bases and Israeli assets across the region.

White House Claims Major Military Gains

According to the White House, US forces have inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military infrastructure during the first phase of the operation. Leavitt said more than 30 Iranian naval vessels have been sunk, leaving the country’s navy “combat ineffective”.

“The achievable objectives of Operation Epic Fury are expected to last about four to six weeks. We are well on our way to achieving those objectives,” she said.

Leavitt added that the US military has also targeted Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, which Washington says posed a threat to American troops and bases in the region.

Responding to questions about air dominance, the White House press secretary said the United States was also moving towards controlling Iranian airspace.

Trump Hardens Position on Iran

US President Donald Trump has simultaneously adopted a hardline stance as the conflict intensifies. In a social media post, Trump said there would be “no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender”.

He asserted that any diplomatic negotiations would only be considered once Iran’s leadership fully capitulates.

The White House also indicated that the US administration is closely watching the political situation in Iran and that Trump is discussing possible leadership scenarios for the country.

Leavitt said it was in the best interest of the United States for Iran not to be governed by what she described as a “radical terrorist regime”, accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons ambitions and threatening American interests.

Conflict Expands Across West Asia

The confrontation has rapidly spread across the region since the initial strikes. Iran has launched waves of drone and missile attacks targeting US military bases and Israeli assets across multiple countries in West Asia.

Israel has continued its strikes against Iranian targets while also widening military operations in Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

The escalation has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict as military activity intensifies across several fronts in West Asia.

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