Washington, June 8: U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s military capabilities have weakened considerably, asserting that the ongoing conflict will not turn into an “endless war.” He argued that the United States is close to securing a nuclear deal with Tehran or achieving its objectives through military means.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump claimed that Iran now possesses only a small fraction of its missile stockpile. He noted that the threat from Iran has significantly decreased following months of U.S. military action.
When asked about Iran’s remaining military capacity, Trump estimated, “They might have 21-22 percent of their missiles left. That’s a significant number. But it’s not like it was when we first struck.”
Responding to concerns about the U.S. potentially becoming embroiled in another prolonged conflict in the Middle East, Trump dismissed the comparison, stating that the current campaign against Iran is vastly different from previous American wars in the region. He emphasized, “I don’t like endless wars. This is not an endless war.”
This interview coincided with the 100-day mark of the conflict, raising questions about the administration’s long-term strategy and the prospects for a resolution through negotiations.
Trump contended that U.S. military operations have already achieved major objectives. He remarked, “We have completely destroyed their military, and most of Iran’s drone factories, launch sites, and missile production facilities have been obliterated.”
The President also claimed that the United States has effectively eliminated Iran’s ability to rapidly rebuild its military infrastructure.
“They will take 15 or 20 years to rebuild. But I won’t give them that chance. We cannot allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, and we will not let that happen,” Trump stated.
When asked what grounds would justify renewed military action if negotiations fail, Trump replied, “My red line will be when I feel I cannot reach a deal, or if I cannot negotiate quickly enough.”
The President expressed confidence that negotiations are nearing a conclusion.
“I believe we are very close. If diplomacy fails, we will resolve it militarily,” Trump asserted.
He also rejected suggestions that this conflict contradicts his long-standing electoral promise to avoid new wars. “I made no promises. I don’t like endless wars; this campaign was necessary because Iran was moving toward acquiring nuclear weapons,” he said.
When asked how he is confident the conflict will not become a quagmire, Trump responded, “We will not reach that point. The United States is ‘almost ready’ and expects either a ‘strong deal’ or a decisive conclusion to the confrontation.”
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