Trump declares Iran war "very complete" after 3,000 strikes; threatens Hormuz annihilation, eyes U.S. takeover as seven Americans die week one.
Ahead of Schedule: Trump Says Iran Military "Nothing Left" - Seven US Troops Dead in Week One (Image: File)
President Donald Trump declared the U.S. war with Iran "very complete, pretty much" during a Monday CBS News phone interview from his Doral golf club, boasting Tehran possesses "no navy, no communications, no air force" after U.S. strikes obliterated over 3,000 targets in the conflict's explosive first week. With commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—20% of global oil—completely halted, Trump threatened Iran's annihilation if it blocks the waterway further while revealing he's "thinking about taking it over."
Trump detailed Iran's military devastation: navy sunk, communications silenced, air force destroyed, missiles reduced to "scatter," drones exploding "all over the place" including factories. The Pentagon confirmed over 3,000 targets hit since operations began, aligning with Trump's assessment that Iran has "nothing left in a military sense." He predicted initial one-month timeline now "very far ahead of schedule."
With Hormuz—the world's critical oil artery—frozen solid by conflict, Trump warned Iran "they better not try anything cute or it's going to be the end of that country." He claimed ships currently enter freely but threatened, "If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran and you'd never hear the name again." The president emphasized U.S. "could do a lot" about the strait, hinting military control as next phase.
Late Sunday, Iran named Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba as new supreme leader amid U.S.-Israeli devastation. Trump dismissed him coldly: "I have no message for him. None, whatsoever," while revealing he has "someone else in mind to lead the country." The rebuff signals Washington rejects the hardliner succession, eyeing regime replacement.
Seven American service members killed in combat so far, including U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington who died from March 1 wounds at Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base. Vice President JD Vance attends dignified transfer Monday. Despite optimism, Pentagon's X post declared "We have Only Just Begun to Fight" with "no mercy," contradicting Trump's completion claim.
"Wrapping up is all in my mind, nobody else's," Trump asserted when asked about endgame. Initial month-long estimate now accelerates dramatically per his assessment, though Defense Department signals prolonged campaign. Hormuz control deliberations coincide with global oil hitting $120+ Brent amid Iraq's 70% production crash.
A: Over 3,000 confirmed U.S. strikes obliterating navy, air force, communications, missiles.
A: "End of that country... you'd never hear the name Iran again."
A: Son Mojtaba Khamenei; Trump has "no message" and eyes alternate leader.
A: Seven service members killed including Sgt. Benjamin Pennington.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
