United States President Donald Trump admitted he was taken aback by the scale of Iran’s retaliation in the ongoing Middle East conflict, while recognizing the country’s significant military capabilities. Speaking ahead of a board meeting for the Trump Kennedy Center, he described Iran as a nation of “great” and “tremendous” power, emphasizing the threat it poses to the region.
“You can’t let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon because the Middle East will be gone,” Trump said. He warned that Israel would likely act first, potentially striking the U.S., and insisted that preventing Iran from gaining nuclear capabilities was critical.
Trump outlined the impact of the ongoing operations, claiming that more than 7,000 targets—primarily military and commercial—have been hit, reducing Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks by 90 to 95 percent. He said Iran’s air force and navy have been largely neutralized, with over 100 naval vessels destroyed and multiple missile and drone production sites repeatedly targeted.
The President tied the strikes to decades of Iranian hostility since the 1979 revolution, asserting that previous U.S. administrations failed to act decisively. He also highlighted efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, noting that mine-laying ships have been destroyed and warning that allied cooperation will be necessary to fully reopen the vital waterway.
On diplomacy, Trump expressed skepticism about potential negotiations, citing uncertainty over the remaining Iranian leadership and widespread disinformation. He predicted that once operations conclude, oil prices, inflation, and regional threats would drop significantly.
Iran has not indicated any willingness to negotiate, maintaining its stance despite the intensified U.S. and Israeli military actions.
