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. 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 impactTrump 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 conflictThe 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 stepsWhen 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. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 15.March 2026
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