Three days into the US strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump's war aims and vision for the future of the country remain opaque.
Trump and senior administration officials have offered a wide range of views about what they hope to achieve in the largest American military operation in the Middle East in two decades - and whether or not the US supports regime change in Tehran.
The administration initially said its goal was to destroy Iran's nuclear programme. But in the hours and days since, the rationale has shifted as Trump used an unconventional messaging strategy of social media posts and brief telephone interviews with reporters to signal his intentions.
Trump laid out some of his objectives on Monday in his first public remarks at the White House since the start of the war.
The US is seeking to destroy Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and navy, its ability to develop nuclear weapons, and support for proxy groups in the region, Trump said. He argued the broader purpose of the war was to protect the US and its allies from attacks by Iran.
