Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 15: US President Donald Trump has claimed that recent American military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities, saying the confrontation has also strengthened Washington’s ties with Gulf nations.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade, Trump said the US campaign had dealt a major blow to Iran’s missile and drone programmes.
“We are decimating them,” Trump said, asserting that US forces had destroyed a large portion of Iran’s missile stockpile, drones, and the facilities used to manufacture them.
He added that the scale of the strikes was unprecedented in modern conflicts. “We’re hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II,” he said.
Trump also argued that the ongoing conflict had strengthened Washington’s relationships with countries in the Gulf region. According to him, several governments that initially tried to stay neutral were drawn closer to the United States after attacks during the crisis.
“We’re very solid. The relationship and unity are tremendous,” Trump said, noting that he had spoken with several regional leaders.
He said some Gulf states had initially attempted to remain outside the confrontation but became involved after attacks they believed were linked to Iran.
“They got hit, and nobody expected it,” Trump said, adding that many had previously maintained a neutral stance.
The US President further alleged that Iran had broader ambitions to dominate the Middle East and said American military action was aimed at preventing such a scenario.
“What Iran wanted to do is take over the whole Middle East,” Trump said, adding that US strikes—including operations involving Northrop B 2 Spirit stealth bombers—had prevented that outcome.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s armed forces had suffered severe setbacks during the fighting, saying much of its naval and air power and several layers of military leadership had been eliminated.
According to him, the campaign has progressed faster than expected, with US forces achieving their objectives ahead of schedule.
He also said Iranian missile launches had dropped sharply following the strikes. Trump claimed that nearly 90 per cent of Iran’s missiles had been destroyed and that attacks had now “fallen to a trickle”.
Addressing concerns about shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the United States could escort oil tankers if the situation required it.
“If we needed to, we would do it,” he said.
Trump clarified that the current focus of the US campaign was to dismantle Iran’s missile and drone capabilities rather than seize its uranium stockpiles.
When asked about the possibility of broader diplomatic changes in the region, Trump suggested the conflict could accelerate expansion of the Abraham Accords, which aim to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab states.
The developments come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz—a crucial maritime passage linking the Persian Gulf with global shipping routes—handles a significant share of the world’s oil exports. Any disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway could have major consequences for global energy markets and regional stability.