US Central Command says more than 3,000 targets in Iran have been struck during the first week of Operation Epic Fury as Washington demands Tehran’s unconditional surrender.
The United States has dramatically escalated its military campaign against Iran, with American forces striking more than 3,000 targets across the country in just one week, according to the US military’s regional command.
In a statement posted on social media, the United States Central Command confirmed that the ongoing operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has carried out thousands of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure since it began. The command said the pace of attacks shows no sign of slowing.
“U.S. forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down,” the command said in its update.
The massive wave of strikes marks one of the largest US military operations in the Middle East in decades. American officials say the campaign is aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, including missile launch systems, naval forces and command infrastructure linked to the country’s armed forces and the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to military briefings, the operation has involved a wide range of US assets, including stealth bombers, fighter aircraft, naval strike groups, drones and precision missile systems targeting facilities across Iran.
The conflict escalated sharply after a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28 targeted Iranian leadership and military infrastructure, reportedly killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior figures. The strikes triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran targeting US bases and Israeli assets across the region.
Since then, both sides have continued exchanging attacks, widening the conflict across multiple countries in West Asia.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump signalled that Washington would not pursue negotiations with Tehran unless the Iranian leadership completely capitulates.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States would accept “no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender.” He added that any agreement would only come after Iran’s leadership was replaced by what he described as “great and acceptable leader(s).”
Trump also suggested that the United States and its allies, particularly Israel, would help rebuild Iran once the current regime collapses, promoting the slogan “Make Iran Great Again (MIGA)” in an echo of his well-known political branding.
The US President later told reporters that he would like to play a role in shaping Iran’s political future following the death of Khamenei. Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump said Washington should be involved in the selection of Iran’s next Supreme Leader.
He specifically criticised speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, could succeed his father. Trump dismissed the possibility, describing Mojtaba as “unacceptable” and warning that a continuation of the current regime’s policies could lead to further confrontation with the United States.
However, Iranian authorities have rejected reports about potential successors, stating that speculation regarding the leadership transition has no official basis.
As the war enters its seventh day, the conflict shows little sign of easing. Iranian missile and drone attacks continue to target US-linked assets across the region, while Israel has widened its own strikes to include positions in Lebanon linked to the militant group Hezbollah.
