NEW DELHI – President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States military has decimated Iran’s naval and missile capabilities, sinking 46 “top-of-the-line” ships in just over three days.
Speaking at the Republican Members Issues Conference in Florida on Monday, the President detailed a conversation with a military official regarding the destruction of the Iranian fleet. When Trump asked why the high-quality vessels were not captured for U.S. use, the official reportedly replied, “It’s more fun to sink them.”
Key Military Claims
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Naval Attrition: Trump stated that 46 Iranian ships now lie at the “bottom of the ocean.”
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Missile Degradation: He claimed Iran’s missile capability has been reduced to just 10% after the U.S. struck approximately 5,000 targets.
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Strategic Outlook: Describing the conflict as a “short-term excursion,” Trump vowed that the military would not relent until a “decisive” victory is achieved.
Escalating Rhetoric and Regional Fallout
The President also issued a severe warning on social media, threatening to hit Iran “twenty times harder” if they attempt to block oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. He characterized the U.S. military action as a “gift” to nations like China that rely on the strait for energy security.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) countered that they would prevent “one liter of oil” from leaving the region if U.S. and Israeli strikes continue.
Context of the Conflict
The war, which began on February 28 following joint strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has seen the conflict spread across the Middle East and into Asia. Most recently, the U.S. sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The ongoing hostilities have triggered significant volatility in global markets, with stock prices slumping and oil prices reaching new heights as the region braces for further escalation under Iran’s new leadership.
