KEY POINTS
- President Trump announced that U.S. forces have destroyed 51 Iranian ships and reduced Iran’s missile and drone technology to just 10 percent of its former capacity, with drone attacks down by 83 percent.
- Trump stated the U.S. is “way ahead of the initial war timeline by a lot” and that while the war won’t end this week, it will conclude “soon.”
- France, China, Russia and other nations have contacted the U.S. to negotiate an end to the conflict.
- President issued a stern warning that the U.S. will launch further attacks if Iran attempts to disrupt fuel supplies at Hermes, declaring “Iran will never recover if it tries to create a hurdle.”
DORAL, FLORIDA, USA: Declaring sweeping military victories against Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Tuesday, asserting that American forces have decimated Tehran’s naval and drone capabilities and vowing that the conflict will conclude “soon.”
In a wide-ranging news conference held in Doral, Florida, the President provided a detailed battlefield assessment, claiming the United States is significantly ahead of its projected war timeline and has severely degraded Iran’s ability to retaliate.
‘Eighty-Three Percent’ of Drone Capacity Destroyed
President Trump announced that U.S. operations have successfully targeted Iran’s drone infrastructure, claiming to have destroyed 51 Iranian naval vessels. He further elaborated on the technological aspect of the strikes, stating that Iran’s missile and drone technology has been reduced to just “10 percent” of its former capacity.
“Drone attacks of Iran have been reduced to 83 percent,” Trump told reporters, framing the strikes as a decisive blow to Tehran’s asymmetric warfare capabilities. He emphasized that the aggressive action was preemptive, asserting, “Had we not attacked Iran, Iran would definitely have attacked us first.”
Ahead of Schedule, End ‘Soon’
When questioned about the duration of the conflict, the President confirmed that the U.S. is “way ahead of the initial war timeline by a lot.” However, he pushed back against speculation that hostilities would cease within the week.
“No,” Trump responded when asked if the war would be over by the end of the week. “But it’s going to end soon.” He reiterated his desire for a swift conclusion, expressing hope for a future leadership in Tehran that “is for the good of this world.”
International Diplomacy and the ‘Hermes’ Red Line
The President revealed that several global powers have reached out to mediate an end to the conflict. “France, China, Russia, and countries have contacted [us] to end this war,” he stated, indicating active international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Trump also issued a stark warning regarding a specific U.S. asset: the Hermes. He vowed that the United States would protect its interests “when time matters” and threatened further action if Iran interferes with logistics.
“We will attack further if Iran tries to stop the fuel supply at Hermes,” Trump warned. “Iran will never recover if it tries to create a hurdle in Hermes.”
The President concluded by assuring that the U.S. will safeguard its allies, stating, “The USA will protect [hermes] when time matters.”
