As Iran war timeline shifts, Trump breaks silence on whether it could outlast his term

The US and Iran began talks in June and agreed to a 60-day peace plan, but the deadline passed without results as Hormuz stayed partly closed
President Donald Trump spoke at length about the Iran war during a Pentagon speech marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump spoke at length about the Iran war during a Pentagon speech marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump spoke at length about the war with Iran during a speech at the Pentagon marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

He discussed America’s response to Iran and the broader fight against t*******m, drawing a link to how the US has confronted radical threats since the attacks.

Just a day earlier, Trump had dismissed speculation that the war with Iran could last through the end of his second term, saying there was “not even a chance” of that happening.

Trump affirms Iran war wouldn't last

Trump also spoke about the Iran war a day earlier, on Thursday, September 10, emphasizing that conflict would not last much longer.

President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens during an observance ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Friday, Sept 11, 2026, at the Pentagon in Washington (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens during an observance ceremony on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Pentagon in Washington (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

On Thursday night, Trump dismissed a report suggesting that his advisers had warned him that the Iran war could last through his second term as president.

"No, there's not even a chance of that," the president said.

The president's timeline has shifted repeatedly. He initially said the war would last four to six weeks.

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on February 28, with massive joint US-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

ARABIAN SEA - APRIL 20: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout photo provided by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the U.S. accused of attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. (Handout Photo by the U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
US forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the US accused of attempting to violate the US naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz (The US Navy via Getty Images)

The US and Iran entered negotiations in June, agreeing to a 60-day peace plan to secure a permanent ceasefire, but the timeline expired without any concrete result, while the Strait of Hormuz remained partially closed and Washington imposed a naval blockade against Tehran.

Trump speaks at length about the Iran war at 9/11 event

The ceremony honored the 184 people killed at the Pentagon. Americans across the country remembered the nearly 3,000 people who died in the 9/11 attacks.

Speaking at the Pentagon on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Trump remembered those killed and assured the audience that Iran would never have nuclear weapons.

“For 25 years our best and bravest have kept America safe, and today we salute every member of the United States military who served in the war on t****r. It is a war on sick, horrible t****r," he said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Family and friends of victims of the 9/11 terror attack look at the names of the victims on the South Tower reflecting pool during the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2025 in New York City. Local and national government officials joined family, friends, and first responders as they gathered at Ground Zero honoring the lives of their loved ones on the 24th anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center.  (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Family and friends of victims of the 9/11 attack look at the names of the victims on the South Tower reflecting pool during the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2025, in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

"We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world's number one sponsor of t****r, the Islamic republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon," he added.

Trump told the audience that anniversaries such as 9/11 reveal a country's character.

“On days like 9/11, we learn what a country is truly made of. We’re learning right now what we’re made of,” Trump said.

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