U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he is considering various exit strategies for the military operation against Iran, including the possibility of concluding it within 2-3 days. In a telephone interview with Axios, Trump explained that while he has strategies for a prolonged engagement, he might also opt for a quick resolution that sends a strong warning to Iran about its nuclear and missile programs. He emphasized that regardless of the timing, he expects Iran will take years to recover from the attack, reflecting a careful balancing act to meet the expectations of his support base, which is wary of long-term military involvement in the Middle East.

During the interview, Trump outlined two main reasons for the airstrikes against Iran. First, he pointed to the breakdown of negotiations led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, suggesting that Iran had shown a tendency to retract from near-agreements, demonstrating a lack of genuine intent to reach a deal. Secondly, he referenced a history of Iranian-linked attacks over the past 25 years, illustrating a long-standing threat. Trump's administration has reportedly planned for a significant aerial bombardment campaign that is expected to last at least five days, aiming to neutralize the threat posed by Iran.

Moreover, Trump reiterated the crucial role of the "Midnight Hammer operation" from last June in enabling the current military actions, where the U.S. and Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities. He stated that had those missile strikes not occurred, Iran might have already developed nuclear weapons, making the current military response infeasible. This backdrop of past military operations and current decisions sets a complex stage for U.S.-Iran relations and the potential for future diplomacy, depending on the outcomes of the current military initiatives.