NBC Reports: Trump Wants a Quick and Decisive Blow to the Islamic Republic

The American network NBC reported on Wednesday night, citing two knowledgeable officials and a person close to the White House, that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has told his national security team that he wants any military action by the U.S. against the Islamic Republic of Iran to be a "quick and decisive blow" to the regime, rather than leading to a prolonged war lasting weeks or months. According to the report, one of the individuals involved in these discussions stated, "If he takes action, he wants that action to be decisive and final." The NBC report was published hours after Mr. Trump stated that the U.S. has been informed that the killings by the Islamic Republic in Iran are stopping, but the U.S. will look into the matter. Trump had previously warned the Islamic Republic about killing protesters in Iran. In an exclusive interview with CBS Evening News on Wednesday, he said his ultimate goal regarding the Islamic Republic is "victory." He added, "I like victory." In response to the question of what he means by "victory," Trump referred to a list of military operations during his first and second terms, including the recent arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, the 2019 operation in Syria that led to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, and the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in 2020. He stated that if the Islamic Republic begins executing anti-government protesters, the U.S. will take "very decisive actions." According to the President of the United States, "We will take very decisive action. If they do such a thing, we will take very decisive action." Donald Trump continued, "We do not want what is happening in Iran to continue. You know, if they want to protest, that is one thing; but when they start killing thousands of people, and now you are talking about hanging [protesters] - let’s see how this will end for them. It will not end well for them." Additionally, Trump urged American citizens and Washington's allies to leave Iran, and the U.S. Treasury Secretary stated that we are rapidly approaching the final stage of a plan that Trump initiated upon entering the White House. The airspace over Iran has emptied of aircraft. Trump stated, "We have been told that the killings in Iran are stopping; we will look into this matter."