Trump shifts tone on Iran war aims as ceasefire takes hold

President Trump has significantly moderated his objectives regarding Iran, shifting from aggressive war aims to a more conciliatory approach as a U.S.-Iran ceasefire memorandum of understanding takes effect.

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We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated.

In late February, following the U.S. initiation of war against Iran, Trump declared intentions to "destroy their missiles" and dismantle Iran's nuclear program, aiming for the Iranian people to "take over" their government. However, recent statements indicate a departure from these ambitions.

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I'm telling you what the objectives of this operation are. The objectives of this operation are to destroy their ballistic missile capability and make sure they can't rebuild it, and make sure that they can't hide behind that to have a nuclear program. That's the objective of the mission.

Speaking to reporters this week, Trump stated that Iran retaining some ballistic missiles is "OK," especially if other countries possess them. He also expressed a lack of urgency regarding Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and indicated he is no longer seeking "regime change" in the country. The newly signed memorandum leaves many details of Iran's nuclear program for further negotiations over the next 60 days.

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If other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for [Iran] not to have some. A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about, when we talk nuclear. But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, in relative proportion, I think it's OK.

Adding to the shift in tone, Trump praised Iran's current leadership during a G7 summit event. "We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people, and they were nice to deal with," he remarked, contrasting them with some prior Iranian leaders who were killed during the conflict. He described the current leaders as "strong people, smart people... They're not radicalized and they're looking to help their country."

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We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people, and they were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people. … They're not radicalized and they're looking to help their country.