US President Donald Trump has said he is not yet prepared to declare victory over Iran, despite claiming that recent American military action has inflicted severe damage on the country.

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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the United States had significantly weakened Iran both militarily and economically but suggested the conflict was not yet fully resolved.

“No, I’m not going to do that. There’s no reason to,” the president said when asked whether he would declare victory.

“I just say they’re decimated. I think that we’ve done damage to them,” he added.

Claims of major military impact

Trump said that if the United States were to end its operations now, Iran could take many years to recover from the damage caused by the attacks.

“If we left right now, it would take them 10 years and more to rebuild,” he said, while emphasising that he was still not ready to formally declare the conflict won.

The remarks follow a series of US airstrikes targeting Iranian military facilities. In a message posted earlier on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed the United States had defeated Iran “both militarily, economically, and in every other way.”

Bombing campaign intensifies conflict

The latest escalation came after Trump ordered what he described as “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East.”

According to the president, the operation targeted military sites on Kharg Island, a strategic location connected to Iran’s energy infrastructure. Trump said the strikes “totally obliterated” the military targets there.

The attacks followed statements by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed for as long as the conflict continues.

Uncertainty over next steps

When asked whether the United States might send ground troops into Iran, Trump declined to provide details about possible future military plans.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global oil supplies, as the narrow shipping route handles a large share of the world’s energy trade.

The continuing conflict has also heightened fears of wider economic consequences and further instability across the region.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 16.March 2026

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What has the madman won !!!!!! all i can see is world chaos and Total embarrassment for the Yanks on the world stage

america is looking more and more ridiculous with these false claims of victory. This may be even more entertaining than the humiliating defeat of the americans in Afghanistan.

Victory?

A long long way off.

Reminds me of the early 1960s, when victory in Viet Nam was just around the corner.

By 1975 this "little Third World country" had defeated the USA.

Then there was Afghanistan.

And now?

More US soldiers will die because of the arrogance and ignorance of US leadership.

Correct the USA and Israel have a lot more work to do yet

Do I have to say it again? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

22 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

What has the madman won !!!!!!

This war will have 15 million different ramifications that are not apparent yet.

Dubai won't be the same place, for one thing.

I wouldn't use the word "won".

But rather ch-ch-ch-changes is the key word.

20 hours ago, EastBayRay said:

Correct the USA and Israel have a lot more work to do yet

Donald trump declaring ANYTHING is meaningless the dudes a pathological liar unencumbered by facts or the thought process stop being suckered.The mess donald created will be getting Americans killed for decades after the bombs stop.stop being suckered by this nonsense.

On 3/16/2026 at 8:04 PM, MikeandDow said:

madman

Madman?

Did you say madman?

But, are you even able to count the ways?

NO.

Trump is not a madman.

Trump fought the good fight against Harris.

But then, he completely succumbed to the wiles of Bibi.

Returning to the Scene Of The Crime....

It was the DEMOCRATS who elected Trump.

The thing is the bar is a lot lower for the Iranian regime, regarding 'declaring victory' or even actually 'achieving victory'. I think most people realise that the regime, militarily, has been taking a big pounding via the aerial bombing, but the thing is there has been no sign of the security forces there turning against the regime or of anti-regime people revolting in the streets in numbers. These might yet happen of course, but now I am getting the feeling that the chances are higher than 50 percent (maybe around 70-80 percent) that the regime will survive this, and then possibly continue to rule, at least in the foreseeable future. Most probably due to economic fallout, US and Israel will soon call it quits after declaring victory and saying stuff like 'Now, it is up to the Iranian people to finish the job'.