U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is continuing its military campaign against Iran “with full force,” claiming that recent strikes have severely weakened the Iranian regime’s military capabilities.
Speaking at the White House, Trump stated that the U.S. military has struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran since the start of the war.
He claimed the Iranian regime had been heavily damaged, saying its air force “practically no longer exists”, while the navy has also been significantly hit and many vessels have been sunk.
Sharp Decline in Iranian Attacks
According to Trump, U.S. operations have led to a dramatic reduction in Iran’s military capabilities, including:
- Around 90% reduction in ballistic missile launches
- About 95% decrease in drone attacks
He also said that in the last week and a half, more than 100 Iranian warships have been destroyed or sunk, while over 30 mine-laying ships were neutralized. However, the president did not provide concrete evidence to support these figures.
Call for Allies to Secure the Strait of Hormuz
Trump criticized some U.S. allies for not showing enough willingness to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor.
He said several countries had promised to join a potential operation but did not name them, suggesting some governments might fear retaliation from Tehran.
Possible Role for France
Trump noted that France could contribute to securing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. He said he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and rated his willingness to help as “eight out of ten.”
Despite this, Trump insisted the United States does not necessarily need allied assistance, stating:
“We are the most powerful country in the world and have the strongest military. We don’t need anyone.”
Strikes on Kharg Island
Trump also said U.S. forces carried out heavy strikes on Kharg Island, destroying nearly all facilities there except the main oil infrastructure.
He explained that Washington deliberately avoided targeting oil installations for now, but did not rule out the possibility of striking them in the future.
Uncertainty Over Iran’s New Leader
Trump also said it remains unclear whether Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive.
According to him, there are conflicting reports suggesting the leader may have been seriously wounded or possibly killed, adding:
“No one says he is 100% fine and no one has seen him publicly. We don’t know if he is alive or not.”
Nuclear Weapons Not Expected
Commenting on the broader conflict, Trump said he does not believe Israel will use nuclear weapons against Iran.
He emphasized that military cooperation between the United States and Israel remains very close, with both forces operating in strong coordination.
