WASHINGTON (Realist English). President Donald Trump said Tuesday that joint US-Israeli strikes had severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities, claiming the operation had effectively dismantled much of the country’s defense infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump said the attacks had neutralized key elements of Iran’s armed forces. “Just about everything’s been knocked out,” he said, adding that Iran’s navy, air force, radar systems and air-defense networks had been heavily damaged.
The strikes are part of “Operation Epic Fury,” launched over the weekend and now at the center of the largest regional conflict in more than two decades.
Trump has faced criticism for delivering mixed messages about both the rationale for the operation and Washington’s broader strategy toward Iran. On Tuesday he argued that the United States acted preemptively, suggesting Tehran had been preparing an attack.
“Based on the way the negotiations were going, I think they were going to strike first,” Trump said, adding that the decision to launch the operation may have accelerated Israel’s own plans. “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”
The US president also acknowledged uncertainty about Iran’s political future following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Trump said several Iranian figures whom Washington had considered potential successors had reportedly been killed during the strikes.
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” he said, adding that another group of possible leaders may also have been killed in subsequent attacks targeting meetings of senior Iranian officials.
Iranian media earlier reported that Israeli strikes hit a building associated with the Assembly of Experts in the city of Qom. The body is responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader. Israeli sources said the building was destroyed, though Iranian authorities said it had been evacuated beforehand and reported no casualties.
While Trump has previously encouraged Iranians to challenge their government, he said protesters should not act immediately during the current conflict.
“If you’re going to protest, don’t do it yet,” he said, referring to demonstrations that have periodically taken place in Iran.
During the same meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the US-Israeli campaign but warned that the war was already affecting global markets. Rising oil and gas prices, he said, were placing additional strain on the international economy and underscored the need for the conflict to end quickly.
Trump, however, argued that energy prices would ultimately fall once the fighting subsides.
The US president also criticized some European allies over their response to the war. He took aim at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over initial hesitation to allow US forces access to British bases and warned Spain that trade relations could be affected after Madrid refused to permit US aircraft to use its facilities during the operation.
