Trump vows 'total victory' over Iran, claims Tehran will need 25 years to recover from US strikes

Jerusalem Post Correspondent, WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the war with Iran would end soon but insisted that Washington would accept nothing less than a "total victory" in a speech on Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery.

"We fought back, and we seriously fought back, and we won," Trump said during his remarks at the Wednesday ceremony, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump.

"Just a question of when we want to end it. We want to make sure we have a total victory, not a 93% victory. It's going to be total," he added.

Trump claimed that the American military campaign had inflicted damage on Iran that would take decades to repair.

"It'll take them 25 years to rebuild back what we have destroyed, and hopefully we won't have to destroy any more of that country," the president said.

Trump pays tribute to 18 US soldiers who fell during Operation Epic Fury

The president also paid tribute to American service members involved in the campaign, saying that 18 US personnel had been killed during the conflict.

"We lost 18 beautiful souls," he said.

"But when this conflict is over, and it will be soon, the entire world will be a much safer and better place, a more peaceful place."

Trump thanked US troops for their efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, describing the Islamic Republic as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.

His remarks highlighted the administration's insistence that the military campaign must achieve its objectives before Washington declares the conflict over, even as Trump continued to signal that an end to the war was approaching.

Hegseth receives applause after House blocks impeachment effort

During the ceremony, Trump introduced Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the audience of veterans and military personnel, drawing enthusiastic applause.

"The Secretary of War Pete Hegseth," Trump announced, prompting loud applause from the audience.

"I had a feeling that was going to happen," the president remarked.

"He's done a fantastic job, but he loves you, and he protects you. He's all about you," Trump added, addressing the veterans and military personnel attending the event.

The public show of support came less than 24 hours after the Republican-controlled House blocked an attempt by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky to advance eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

Massie's accusations centered on the administration's military operations against Iran, strikes in Yemen, attacks on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Hegseth's response to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.

The House vote was procedural and prevented the impeachment effort from advancing, rather than ruling on the substance of the allegations.

Hegseth rejected the accusations during a Pentagon news conference on Tuesday, calling the impeachment effort a "political spectacle" and a "farce."

He also defended the administration's military operations, saying he stood behind every one.

"I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow," Hegseth said.

Trump has consistently defended his defense secretary against calls to remove him, praising his leadership during the administration's military campaigns.

Wednesday's applause at Arlington offered a visible display of support for Hegseth following one of the most direct congressional challenges to his tenure.

The ceremony commemorated Veterans Day, with Trump and the first lady participating in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony before the president delivered his remarks.