WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he has several "off ramps" from the ongoing massive military operation against Iran he launched early Saturday morning.
"I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days and tell the Iranians: 'See you again in a few years if you start rebuilding (your nuclear and missile programs)," Trump told U.S. online media Axios in a five-minute phone interview from his Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida.
The timeline could change based on developments on the ground, including the fate of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, among other senior Iranian officials targeted by the U.S.-Israeli strikes, Trump told Axios.
"In any case, it will take them several years to recover from this attack," Trump claimed. An Axios report said the remarks suggest Trump is still open to a diplomatic solution.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the U.S. and Israel for launching the attack despite ongoing nuclear negotiations in an exclusive interview with NBC News earlier on Saturday. The latest round of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks just wrapped up in Geneva on Thursday and additional technical talks were scheduled for Monday in Vienna.
During the interview, Trump cited two reasons for the military campaign, which the Pentagon officially named "Operation Epic Fury": the failure of Thursday's negotiations, and Iran's conduct over the last several decades.
"The Iranians got close and then pulled back -- close and then pulled back. I understood from that that they don't really want a deal," Trump accused, arguing that Iran had begun rebuilding some nuclear facilities hit by the U.S.-Israeli joint strikes last year.
Independent analysts pointed to building activity taking place in some of the nuclear sites, but didn't conclude that Iran has resumed nuclear activity, according to the Axios report.
The massive bombing campaign may last at least five days though the timeline may change, said the report, citing a senior U.S. official.
Also on Saturday, Trump held phone talks separately with the leaders of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and NATO, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Before launching the strikes, Trump expanded the U.S. military presence in the Middle East to its largest level since the 2003 Iraq War. ■