The Pentagon is running out of strategically important targets to hit in Iran, while President Donald Trump insists the US will continue attacks.","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/01/trump-warns-us-will-hit-iran-extremely-hard-over-next-two-to-three-weeks-00855071","_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0000","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0001","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>will keep beating Tehran for up to three weeks.
According to two current defense officials and a former Trump administration official, the new timeline — which Trump announced in an address to the nation on Wednesday — leaves few options for conducting the air strikes needed to eliminate hidden ballistic missile stockpiles. Iran’s grip Challenges have increased since","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/01/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-ceasefire-00853870","_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0002","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0003","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Tension increased due to Iran’s grip On the Strait of Hormuz And the reality is that the regime is waging a different kind of war, one less of strategy than economics.
Three officials warned that these dynamics could give Iran such leverage that it refuses to negotiate on its nuclear program, the security situation in the Middle East or the reopening of choke points — a spiraling cycle with no clear end.
One of the defense officials said, “We can continue to work on a list of ever-decreasing importance targets and continue to harass them to the point that (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) have strong control over the government and they feel justified in waging a holy war against the US forever.” “Trump cannot go away under any circumstances. If he goes he will be humiliated and if he stays we will be in trouble.”
The President said in his address that Iran’s military forces, defense industrial base and political leadership have all been “completely destroyed” due to a month of intense attacks by US aircraft and weapons.
But he also stressed that US forces would continue bombing for the next two or three weeks and promised to “hit very hard” whatever major targets or threats remained.
Trump on Thursday Posted a video after the air strike","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116336091138489301","_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0004","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0005","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Posted a video after the air strike against “Iran’s largest bridge” and promised that “much more remains to be done” in the coming days.
The problem is that few military sites are now accessible without a ground invasion, said the former Trump official, who like others in the interview was granted anonymity to discuss highly sensitive war planning. Attacking Tehran’s remaining ballistic missile stockpile is becoming increasingly difficult, the person said, because those that remain are probably in hardened bunkers. “Otherwise they would have been taken out already.”
Tehran’s strategy of waiting out US forces is paying some dividends, driving up energy prices and increasing political pressure on the Trump administration to resolve the conflict and avoid the wrath of angry voters.
The official previously worried that Trump would stumble into a strategy similar to Israel’s ongoing campaign of episodic military strikes, known as “mowing,” to keep its Middle East adversaries in check. But that would give the US little influence over Iran and give Tehran control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
The administration’s hope, said another defense official, would be that “Iran will scream Uncle Iran and agree to major concessions.” “But even there, how do you hold them?”
White House officials did not respond to requests for comment. Defense Department officials referred questions about the battle to US Central Command, which did not respond to questions about remaining targets.
Trump also suggested social media postIn","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116317880658472708","_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0006","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0007","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>in social media post It has been said in the past few weeks that US forces could attack civilian infrastructure sites, including power plants and water processing facilities, if Iranian leaders do not accelerate talks.
But the president said during his speech Wednesday that the airstrikes did not hit Iranian oil facilities “even though it is the easiest target of all.” He said the country’s new leadership would need future revenues to finance reconstruction efforts.
U.S. forces could escalate strikes around Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub, without directly damaging oil infrastructure. But capturing that position would probably require ground troops. “If the Pentagon takes this path, Iran will increase casualties, which will be even more painful for the United States,” the first defense official said.
The Defense Department has already deployed thousands of US troops to the Middle East for possible ground operations","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/24/pentgon-troops-deploy-middle-east-00841827","_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0008","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-5017-d763-a5dd-5ed7581e0009","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>For possible ground operationsTrump, however, has given no indication that such an attack is imminent.
Reopening the waterway may require boots on the ground to gain a foothold on islands in the vital Strait of Hormuz, but such a move would draw significant political backlash, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers wary of another protracted war in the region.
Congressional Democrats expressed concern after the speech about the lack of military objectives as the fighting continued.
“There is still no clear plan for what happens next,” the House Foreign Affairs ranking member said. gregory meeks (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “The American people deserve more than vague declarations of success. They deserve a comprehensive strategy that prevents further escalation, protects our interests, and charts a durable path to peace.”
