Under the steadfast leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Armed Forces have embarked on Operation Epic Fury, characterized by formidable strength, lethal accuracy, and unwavering determination. From the onset of this significant military endeavor, the goals have been explicit: to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, obliterate its naval forces, disrupt its support for terrorist proxies, and ensure that the foremost state sponsor of terrorism cannot obtain nuclear weapons.
These goals have remained constant, clear, and resolute since the operation commenced:
- President Trump (March 2): “Our objectives are straightforward. First, we are dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities… and their ability to manufacture new ones — ones that are quite advanced. Second, we are wiping out their navy… Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism can never acquire a nuclear weapon… Finally, we’re making sure the Iranian regime cannot continue to fund, arm, or direct terrorist organizations beyond their borders.”
- Vice President JD Vance (March 2): “Regardless of how the regime evolves, the President’s primary focus remains — ensuring that the Iranian terrorist regime does not construct a nuclear bomb.”
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio (March 2): “The United States is actively working to neutralize the threat posed by Iran’s short-range ballistic missiles and its navy… This is the clear mission objective.”
- U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper (March 3): “Our military operations in the Middle East represent an unprecedented effort to eliminate Iran’s capacity to threaten Americans, a menace they have posed for nearly fifty years.”
- Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby (March 3): “Let me reiterate the objectives of this military campaign… which are centered on countering the Islamic Republic’s ability to project military power… primarily focusing on their missile forces, which have substantially increased and pose a significant threat… as well as their naval capabilities.”
- Secretary Rubio (March 3): “Our objectives remain unchanged from the outset, as the President clearly articulated yesterday. Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon, and we will not allow them to hide behind their extensive short-range ballistic missile inventory or their capacity to produce and launch them… Along with the destruction of their navy.”
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (March 4): “The mission is sharply focused: eradicate Iran’s missiles and drones along with their production facilities, destroy its navy and critical security infrastructure, and eliminate their path to nuclear armament. Iran will never acquire a nuclear bomb.”
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (March 4): “The operation has been initiated with clear military objectives aimed at dismantling Iran’s capacity to exert influence beyond its borders, both now and in the future. First, we are targeting Iran’s ballistic missile systems to prevent threats to U.S. forces, allies, and interests in the region. Second, we are degrading the Iranian navy, reducing its operational capabilities… Third, we’re ensuring Iran cannot quickly restore its combat capabilities.”
- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (March 4): “At the onset of Operation Epic Fury, which began last weekend, President Trump outlined clear objectives to the American public regarding what the U.S. military aims to achieve through these significant combat operations. First, eliminate the regime’s dangerous ballistic missiles and completely dismantle their missile industry. Second, obliterate the Iranian regime’s navy… Third, Operation Epic Fury will ensure that the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or threaten our armed forces… Fourth, this mission will guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
- Admiral Cooper (March 5): “We will systematically dismantle Iran’s missile production capabilities for the future, and that process is already underway…”
- Leavitt (March 6): “We are making significant progress in achieving our goals — decimating Iran’s navy… neutralizing the ballistic missile threat posed to the United States and our troops and installations in the region… ensuring Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon, while also significantly weakening their proxies in the area.”
- Secretary Rubio (March 9): “It is crucial to keep reminding the American people why the greatest military in history is engaged in this operation. Our mission is to eliminate the regime’s ability to launch missiles by destroying their missiles and launchers, dismantling the factories that produce these missiles, and annihilating their navy.”
- Secretary Hegseth (March 10): “[Our objectives] are clear-cut, and we are executing them with relentless precision. First, destroy their missile stockpiles, their launch systems, and their defense manufacturing capabilities — specifically, missiles and their production processes. Second, obliterate their navy. And third, permanently deny Iran access to nuclear weapons.”
- General Caine (March 10): “The joint task force remains focused on three military objectives…”
- Leavitt (March 10): “Moving forward, the articulated objectives for Operation Epic Fury persist: eliminate the terrorist regime’s ballistic missiles, raze their missile manufacturing capabilities, ensure their proxies can no longer undermine the region, and guarantee that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons.”
