Washington, March 8: U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran’s military capabilities have been nearly entirely weakened following a week of ongoing military conflict. He stated that U.S. and Israeli attacks have inflicted serious damage on Iran’s navy, air force, and missile capabilities. However, he clarified that the U.S. is not in a hurry to negotiate with Tehran, as Washington possesses ‘negotiating leverage’ for future discussions.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump mentioned that Iran’s military faced a significant blow early in the conflict, which began with a joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel on February 28. He claimed that U.S. attacks have nearly obliterated Iran’s navy, stating, “We have destroyed their navy, sinking 44 ships. Their air force has also been eliminated, with every aircraft destroyed.”
Trump further noted that U.S. strikes have severely damaged Iran’s missile capabilities and launching systems, with approximately 70 percent of rocket launchers reportedly destroyed. He emphasized that these systems are expensive and difficult to acquire, which has significantly reduced Iran’s capacity for retaliatory strikes. According to him, the number of attacks from Iran has dwindled to just 9 percent compared to the initial days of the conflict.
Despite the military pressure, Trump indicated that the U.S. is not currently seeking a diplomatic agreement, asserting that the U.S. holds a strong negotiating position. He stated, “We have a lot of negotiating leverage, perhaps the maximum. They would want to make a deal, but we are not looking for an agreement right now.”
Trump also claimed that Iran has recently apologized to neighboring Middle Eastern countries that it had previously attacked, suggesting a retreat on Iran’s part. He remarked, “They have apologized to those Middle Eastern countries they attacked. This in itself is like surrender.”
Meanwhile, Trump dismissed allegations that U.S. attacks had targeted a girls’ school in Iran at the onset of the conflict, stating that the information he has indicates that the attack originated from Iran. When asked if Russia is assisting Iran, Trump responded, “No, I have no information on that.”
He clarified that the U.S. would not allow Kurdish fighters to join the conflict, despite their willingness to participate. “We are very good friends with the Kurds, but we do not want to complicate this war further. I do not want the Kurds involved,” he said.
When questioned about potential changes to Iran’s geographical or political structure post-conflict, Trump suggested, “It is possible that the country may not look the same as it does now.” He reiterated that the goal of the military campaign is to permanently weaken Iran’s capabilities, stating, “When this is all over, the world will be safer than ever before.”
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VKU/AS
Agency
“Disclaimer: This news is directly from the agency; our team has made no edits.”
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
