ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States’ ongoing war with Iran is “very complete, pretty much,” claiming Iranian military capabilities have been severely weakened following weeks of intense fighting.
In an interview with CBS News, the U.S. president said Iran had effectively lost its navy, communications infrastructure, and air force, adding that the military campaign was progressing “very far ahead of schedule.” Trump had previously estimated the operation could take four to five weeks.
Trump reiterated that any resolution to the conflict would require Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” dismissing the possibility of negotiations that fall short of total capitulation. He also suggested Washington would help rebuild Iran’s economy under new leadership following such a surrender.
The comments came shortly after Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin to discuss the Iran war as well as developments in Ukraine and other global issues. The Kremlin described the conversation as substantive, amid reports that Moscow may be sharing intelligence with Tehran that could assist Iranian operations against U.S. interests.
Separately, Putin ordered his government to study the possibility of halting oil and gas exports to European Union countries and redirecting supplies to alternative markets such as China. Russian officials cited ongoing EU sanctions and market disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Global oil prices have climbed above $115 per barrel amid fears of supply instability.
Meanwhile, Iran, now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, continues retaliatory strikes. Since February 28, Tehran has launched more than 1,500 missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. military assets in the Gulf states following U.S.–Israeli attacks that assassinated former leader Ali Khamenei and severely damaged Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
Iranian officials have threatened to intensify attacks on Israel using advanced ballistic missiles, including cluster munitions, as the conflict shows little sign of easing. U.S. officials warn of a “major uptick” in operations aimed at further degrading Iran’s military capabilities, while the United Nations has called for urgent de-escalation to prevent a broader regional crisis.
