On Monday, President Donald Trump told CBS News in a phone interview that the U.S. campaign against Iran could be nearing its endpoint, saying Tehran’s military capacity has been heavily degraded.
U.S. equities ultimately finished the session higher after a volatile trading day. Major indexes had been under pressure earlier, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite entered positive territory by the closing bell.
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CBS News reports the president said, “I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” while speaking from his golf club in Doral, Florida. He also described Iran’s forces as severely diminished, saying, “[Iran has] no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter.”
Trump also warned Iran over any attempt to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global crude shipments.
Why Trump Claims Victory Over Iran
The U.S. military, according to the report, said it hit more than 3,000 Iranian targets during the first week of operations. Trump reinforced that view in the interview, saying, “If you look, they have nothing left. There’s nothing left in a military sense.”
Iran, meanwhile, announced late Sunday that Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed his father as the country’s supreme leader. Trump dismissed the new leader in the interview, saying, “I have no message for him. None, whatsoever,” and added he had another person in mind to run Iran.
What Happens Next For Global Oil Supply?
Commercial vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz have largely stopped, even though the passage is tied to roughly one-fifth of worldwide oil supply flows. Trump said the U.S. “could do a lot” regarding the strait and issued a warning if Iran tries to block it.
Trump also claimed ships have been moving into the strait and said the channel is open, while adding he is still “thinking about taking it over.” As reported by CBS News, he threatened severe consequences if Iran attempts further action, saying, “They’ve shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country.”
The Military Strategy Behind Trump’s Timeline
Trump told CBS News he had earlier projected the conflict might take about a month, but said the timeline has moved faster than expected. “We’re very far ahead of schedule,” he said.
On Monday, the Department of Defense posted on X, “We have Only Just Begun to Fight” and “no mercy,” the same day Trump described the war as close to finished. The report said seven Americans have been killed in combat so far.
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