President Donald Trump stated that the United States significantly weakened Iran’s military after a week of conflict. Trump, speaking during a press session on Air Force One, described the initial phase of the confrontation as a major blow to Iran’s armed forces. He mentioned that the US and Israel conducted a joint military operation against Iran on February 28.
“We’ve destroyed their Navy, 44 ships. We’ve destroyed their Air Force, every plane,” Trump declared. He also highlighted that American strikes had damaged Iran’s missile capabilities and launch infrastructure. Trump noted that around 70% of Iran’s rocket launchers had been taken out, impacting their ability to retaliate.
According to Trump, the reduction in launchers and manufacturing capacity has significantly hampered Iran’s military strength. He mentioned that Iran’s military is now almost non-existent. Trump did not provide a specific timeline for the conflict’s duration but emphasized that operations would continue as needed.
Trump also suggested that the conflict had led to changes in Iran’s leadership structure. He stated that Iran was now being led by individuals who are relatively unknown. Despite the military pressure, Trump indicated that Washington was not actively seeking a diplomatic resolution, citing strong negotiating leverage.
“We have a lot of negotiating leverage. Maybe maximum,” Trump said. He pointed out Iran’s recent apologies to neighboring Middle Eastern states as a sign of Tehran’s retreat. Trump dismissed allegations of US forces targeting a girls’ school in Iran, attributing the act to Iran.
When asked about Russian involvement, Trump denied any indication of support from Russia. He also rejected the idea of involving Kurdish forces in the conflict to avoid complicating the situation further. Trump acknowledged the possibility of changes in Iran’s territorial structure post-war, emphasizing the goal of permanently weakening Iran’s regional threat.
