WASHINGTON (Reuters) — President Donald Trump and his top officials have offered shifting objectives and reasons for the US-Israeli war on Iran, which critics say shows a lack of planning for the conflict and its aftermath.

Stated objectives and expected timeline have varied, including toppling Iran’s government, weakening Iran’s military, security, and nuclear capabilities, and its regional influence, as well as supporting Israeli interests.

Here is how Trump described his war goals and timeline:

February 28: Calls for Iranians to topple their government

The Iranian people should “take over” governance of their country, Trump said in a video on social media as the US and Israel launched their attacks. “It will be yours to take,” he added. “This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Trump described the attacks as “major combat operations.”

February 28: Weaken Iran’s military, influence

Trump said Washington would deny Iran the ability to have a nuclear weapon, although Tehran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Iran does not have nuclear weapons, while the United States does. Israel is also widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons.

Trump insisted he would end what he described as Tehran’s ballistic missile threat. “We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” he said. “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”

Trump claimed Iran’s long-range missiles “can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.”

His remarks echoed the case of former president George W. Bush for the Iraq War, which had false claims. Neither experts nor US intelligence support Trump’s assertions, and both assess that Iran’s........

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