US predicts Iran campaign could last up to six weeks

Shiite Muslims march during a protest against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Budgam, northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

The US military campaign against Iran may take as long as four to six weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said.

She added that the US is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace.

Leavitt claimed the US would consider Iran in a state of “unconditional surrender” once Donald Trump determines the country no longer “poses a threat” to the United States.

She told reporters at the White House: "What the president means is that when he, as Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America, and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realized, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not."

Donald Trump said today that only Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” will bring an end to the joint US-Israeli offensive launched seven days ago.

On timing, the US president has previously suggested the war would take approximately four to five weeks but could go “far longer” and today, Pete Hegseth, his defence secretary, said the US operation would continue for “as long as it takes” to achieve its objectives in Iran.

Leavitt, speaking ahead of a meeting between Trump and major defence contractors told reporters at the White House that the US has sufficient weapons stockpiles to meet all its operational needs in Iran.

She added that the US was looking at a number of potential candidates to lead Iran but didn’t give any details.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has intensified direct engagement with Iran to help contain the conflict in the Middle East, Bloomberg News reported, citing several European officials.

Saudi officials in recent days have used their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with increased urgency to ease tensions and keep the conflict from worsening, the report said.

The Guardian