Washington, DC [US], April 2 (ANI): US President Donald Trump is set to provide an 'operational update' on the progress of 'Operation Epic Fury' during a national address scheduled for 9 PM Wednesday (US local time), a White House official told The Daily Wire. The official noted that the ongoing military operation is currently 'meeting or exceeding all of its benchmarks' as it enters a critical phase.

During the address, the President is expected to underscore the successes of the US military, highlighting that it has been effective in 'achieving all of its stated goals prior to the operation.' According to The Daily Wire, the President will also reiterate the two-to-three-week timetable for the mission that he had previously outlined on Tuesday.

The White House remarks are anticipated to detail the specific strategic objectives of the campaign, which include the destruction of Iran's ballistic missiles and production facilities. Additionally, the operation aims to 'annihilate' the Iranian Navy and ensure that its regional proxies are no longer capable of destabilising the Middle East.

Furthermore, the administration remains focused on the long-term goal of guaranteeing that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. As reported by The Daily Wire, the update on Wednesday will serve as a comprehensive briefing on these multi-front military efforts and the progress made towards securing regional stability.

This upcoming briefing follows recent indications from President Trump that American military forces are expected to withdraw from Iran in 'two or three weeks,' as he stated that the mission is reaching its conclusion.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, the President remarked, 'We leave because there's no reason for us to do this,' adding that the troops 'will be leaving very soon.'

In light of these developments, the President's address is intended to 'provide an important update on Iran.'

During his earlier Tuesday briefing, Trump appeared to dismiss the necessity of a formal negotiated settlement to conclude the hostilities, suggesting that the United States could conclude the conflict by declaring victory.

Addressing the current state of the Iranian leadership, the President noted that 'Iran doesn't have to make a deal' and described the current administration as 'a new regime' that is 'much more accessible.'

He emphasised that a formal agreement is not a prerequisite for withdrawal, provided the military objectives regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities are met.

'No, they don't have to make a deal with me when we feel that they are, for a long period of time, put into the Stone Ages, and they won't be able to come up with a nuclear weapon,' Trump asserted.

He further clarified that the US would depart 'whether we have a deal or not,' describing a potential agreement as 'irrelevant now,' though he admitted, 'it's possible that we'll have a deal because they want to make a deal.'

The President suggested that the Iranian authorities 'want to make a deal more than I want to make a deal,' but reiterated that the operation 'will be finished' in a 'fairly short period of time.'

Highlighting the extensive impact of the air campaign, he remarked, 'Look what's happening in Iran,' and stated that US forces are 'totally unchecked' as 'everything's been bombed out.'

Detailing the recent intensity of the strikes, Trump confirmed, 'We're hitting them very hard,' noting that operations on Monday night had 'knocked out tremendous amounts of missile-making facilities.'

These developments follow the military campaign initiated on February 28, which targeted high-level Iranian officials and resulted in the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other top leaders. (ANI)