U.S. President Donald Trump said the war against Iran is “very complete, pretty much,” claiming that Iranian military capabilities have been largely destroyed following ongoing U.S. and Israeli operations.
Speaking to CBS News, Trump said Iran’s navy, air force, and communications systems have been severely degraded, adding that Tehran has exhausted most of its offensive capabilities. He warned that Iran should avoid further escalation, saying the country had already fired most of its remaining weapons.
Trump also said he has a potential figure in mind to replace Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely discussed as a possible successor to Iran’s leadership. When asked if he had a message for Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump replied that he had “none, whatsoever.”
In separate remarks, Trump said ships are currently moving through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that he is considering taking control of the strategic waterway, which is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. He warned Iran against attempting further attacks in the region.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Trump, during which the leaders discussed the war with Iran as well as negotiations related to the conflict in Ukraine. According to Moscow, Putin presented several ideas aimed at achieving a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iran conflict.
Separately, reports indicate that the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on Russian oil exports amid rising global energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
