Key takeaways:
- President Trump described the U.S.-Iran conflict as nearing its end, claiming significant degradation of Iran’s military and asserting that over 3,000 Iranian targets were struck in the first week.
- Trump warned Iran against restricting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening overwhelming U.S. force, while oil prices fluctuated following his remarks.
- The president acknowledged U.S. casualties, expressed confidence in the campaign’s success, and addressed political activities and controversies surrounding the conflict.
President Donald Trump characterized the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran as nearing its conclusion, describing the war as “very complete” and “short term” during remarks made on Monday. Speaking from his Doral, Florida golf club and later at a news conference, Trump asserted that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely diminished, claiming the country has lost its navy, air force, and much of its missile and drone arsenal. He emphasized that the U.S. military had struck more than 3,000 Iranian targets in the first week of operations, leaving Iran with “nothing left in a military sense.”
The president also addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply transits. Commercial shipping through the strait has effectively halted amid escalating tensions. Trump warned Iran against attempting to restrict navigation in the waterway, stating that the U.S. could respond with overwhelming force. “They better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country,” Trump said, adding that the strait remains open and that he was considering taking control of it. The comments came as oil prices, which had surged earlier in the day, fell by about 10% following the interview.
Trump’s remarks came amid political activity at his Doral resort, where House Republicans and donors gathered to discuss legislative priorities and campaign strategies ahead of the November midterm elections. He described the military action as a necessary “excursion” to eliminate “some evil” and expressed confidence that the conflict would end soon, though he did not provide a specific timeline. The president also addressed a controversial video purportedly showing a U.S. Tomahawk missile striking a girls’ school in Iran, which resulted in significant casualties. Trump said he had not seen the video and suggested, without evidence, that the missile could have been fired by Iran or another party, noting that Tomahawk missiles are used by multiple countries.
The human cost of the conflict was acknowledged during the president’s remarks. Seven American service members have died in combat, with an eighth passing away from a medical incident in the region. Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to attend a dignified transfer ceremony for one of the fallen soldiers, U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington. Trump recounted his meeting with the families of the deceased at Dover Air Force Base, saying they urged him to “finish the job.” Despite some philosophical differences with Vice President Vance regarding the military action, Trump stated that they remain aligned in their support for the campaign. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense posted messages on social media emphasizing that the fight is ongoing and vowed “no mercy.”
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