From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
White House says US moving to dismantle Iran’s missile infrastructure
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says that after destroying over 50 Iranian naval vessels and deeming the Islamic Republic’s navy “combat ineffective,” the US is moving to dismantle Iran’s missile infrastructure.
US B2 bunker buster bombers recently dropped dozens of 2,000 lb penetrator explosives on deeply buried missile sites, Leavitt says during a press briefing that opens with her largely reviewing previously stated accomplishments in the Iran war.
She says the stated objectives of the war remain: destroying Iran’s missile program, ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and ensuring that Tehran’s proxies can no longer destabilize the region. Leavitt later adds the destruction of Iran’s navy as another war aim — one previously stated by US officials.
Leavitt says Washington anticipated that Iran would try and disrupt global markets in response to attacks and offered political risk insurance to tankers in the Gulf, waived certain oil sanctions and has offered US Navy escort to tankers when necessary. She notes that this has not yet happened, contrary to what Energy Secretary Chris Wright asserted in a since-deleted X post.
“The US military is drawing up additional options following the president’s directive to continue keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. I will not broadcast what those actions look like, but just know the president is not afraid to use them,” Leavitt adds.
She insists that recent increases in oil and gas prices are only temporary and that Americans will see them drop back down once the war’s objectives are met.
Leavitt recalls that the initial timeline for the operation was four to six weeks, while noting that the US believes things are moving ahead of schedule.
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