India, March 10 -- In a sudden shift in tone, US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that the war against Iran may be short-lived, backing away from earlier remarks that the conflict could stretch for months and not ruling out American "boots on the ground".

Speaking during a news conference and later at a gathering of lawmakers at his golf club near Miami, Trump described the ongoing military campaign as a "short-term excursion" aimed at eliminating security threats posed by Tehran.

"We took a little excursion to the Middle East to get rid of some evil," Trump said. "I think you will see it is going to be a short-term excursion."

However, the president also warned that the worst fighting could still lie ahead, threatening inten...