The White House said military operations against Iran will end when President Donald Trump judges that the military objectives have been fully achieved.
White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on the 10th (local time) regarding the timeline for ending military operations against Iran, "Ultimately, the operation will conclude when the commander in chief (President Trump) judges that the military objectives have been fully achieved, and when it is determined that Iran has reached a state of complete and unconditional surrender regardless of whether it declares it."
Leavitt's remarks are interpreted to mean that an explicit declaration of surrender by Iran will not be a condition for ending the war. President Trump the previous day likened the operation to a "short journey," signaling the possibility of an early conclusion. Asked whether the president still wants Iran's "unconditional surrender," she said, "When the president says Iran is in a position to unconditionally surrender, that does not claim the Iranian regime will declare as much." Leavitt continued, "What the president means is that Iran's threat will no longer be backed by a ballistic missile arsenal that supports its domestic development of nuclear weapons," adding, "They can make an 'empty threat,' but if there is no action to back it up, it's just an empty threat."
On the possibility of deploying U.S. ground forces, Leavitt repeated the existing position, saying, "As commander in chief, the president does not rule out any options." She added, "We are winning this critical battle at a much faster pace than expected," and said, "Since the operation began, Iran's ballistic missile attacks have decreased by more than 90% and drone attacks have fallen by about 85%."
Regarding the surge in international oil prices on concerns about a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, she said, "The president and the energy team are closely monitoring the market and consulting with industry leaders, and the U.S. military, under the president's direction, is preparing additional response options to keep the Strait of Hormuz open," adding, "The recent rise in oil prices is a 'temporary' phenomenon, and through this operation, it will lead to lower prices over the longer term."