WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said the “real war” with Iran has yet to begin, and that the U.S. is preparing for a major operation against the country.

He indicated that the next phase of military action against Iran would be catastrophic, and warned that it could happen sooner than expected.

Trump also expressed surprise at Iran’s retaliatory attacks on several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. He described these attacks as a “big surprise” and highlighted the increasing tensions in the region.

The U.S. president shared that the United States, in coordination with Israel, had carried out Operation Epic Fury on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of 49 senior Iranian leaders. However, he expressed sorrow over the loss of four American personnel during the operation.

Trump emphasized that Iran’s ballistic missile program and nuclear weapons development posed a serious threat, with long-range missiles capable of reaching distant targets. Despite U.S. warnings, Iran allegedly ignored calls to halt its missile program, which led to the current military escalation.

“The priority now is to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities,” Trump stated, adding that the Iranian government is a major threat to the Middle East. He also noted that the operation was crucial in eliminating the dangers posed by the Iranian regime.

“The entire world is united with us in this effort,” Trump asserted. “This was our last opportunity to neutralize the risks associated with the Iranian government.”