State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Thursday that President Donald Trump "has been very clear" about the objectives of Operation Epic Fury, noting that he "has had [those] objectives from the beginning" and "outlined the rationale, the clear objectives" of the operation in a recent address.
Appearing on Newsmax's "National Report," Pigott described Trump's Wednesday night speech as "incredibly powerful," saying it highlighted "the fact that the president has preferred diplomacy" both "before Operation Midnight Hammer" and after.
"The reality," Pigott added, "is that the Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon."
Addressing concerns about the timeline of the operation, Pigott reiterated that Trump "has been very clear, talking about the destruction of the Iranian regime's air force, the destruction of their navy, of their missile capability," and stressed that "we are close to reaching these objectives."
"The fundamental point here is protecting the American people," he said, calling Iran's nuclear ambitions "a threat that has been identified for decades," and adding that Trump is "actually stepping up, making the world a safer place. Not just for the American people now, but for generations to come."
On rising gas prices, Pigott pointed to "the indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure" by Iran, saying it "underlines the threat here of the Iranian regime."
He also highlighted "the unleashing of American energy" under Trump, noting "the president has been clear that he wants to see energy prices come down."
Pigott further underscored national security concerns at home, calling border security "one of the most important parts of our national security, who is entering this country," while citing State Department efforts on visa policy and combating cartels and terrorist organizations.
He concluded by emphasizing traveler safety, urging Americans abroad to "register for step.state.gov" and consult "Travel.state.gov" for alerts, adding, "The State Department's highest priority is the safety and security of the American people."
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