Trump spokesperson lists goals for Iran war different than those set out by Rubio hours earlier

WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt lists objectives for the Iran war that are different from the ones laid out by Secretary of State Marco Rubio hours earlier.

“The objectives of Operation Epic Fury [are to] destroy the Iranian navy, destroy their ballistic missiles, dismantle their missile and drone production infrastructure, significantly weaken their proxies and preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt says during a press briefing.

Earlier today, Rubio insisted that the US has been clear about the goals of the war and that they were as follows: destroying Iran’s navy, destroying Iran’s air force and destroying Iran’s missile and drone programs.

He made no mention of Iran’s support for proxies or its nuclear program.

Destroying Iran’s air force has largely gone unmentioned by US officials other than Rubio, possibly because it is not seen to pose a significant threat.

Asked about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt says the administration is working toward that end, but she clarifies that it is not a “core objective” of the war.