Trump claims Iran’s military and economy have been hit hard, while signalling secret negotiations and downplaying fresh strikes amid growing legal and geopolitical pressure.
US President Donald Trump (Photo: X/@WhiteHouse)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that Iran has been severely weakened and is now keen to strike a deal with Washington, even as tensions over its nuclear programme remain high.
The remarks come at a time when fragile ceasefire conditions, backchannel negotiations and mounting legal scrutiny in the US are shaping the next phase of the Iran conflict, with global energy markets closely watching developments.
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“Iran is dying to make a deal,” Trump said, insisting that Tehran “cannot be nuclear.” He also claimed that recent US military action had sharply degraded Iran’s capabilities. “Their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone… their drone factories are about 82 per cent down,” he said.
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Trump further asserted that missile production had taken a major hit. “Their missile factories are almost 90 percent down,” he said, adding, “We obliterated that nuclear capacity of theirs.”
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said negotiations with Iran are progressing behind closed doors and that only a select few are aware of their status. “Nobody knows what the talks are except myself and a couple of other people,” he said.
He also pointed to uncertainty within Iran’s leadership. “We have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are. It’s a little bit of a problem,” he added.
Despite the volatile situation, Trump suggested that large-scale military action may not be necessary for now. “I don’t know that we need it. We might need it,” he said when asked about the possibility of renewed bombing.
According to CNN, the US administration is expected to review updated military options as pressure on Tehran continues.
The US President emphasised that economic sanctions and blockades remain key tools. “They’re not getting any money from oil… the blockade is incredible,” he said, referring to restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also painted a grim picture of Iran’s economy. “Their economy is crashing,” he said.
At the same time, he highlighted US economic strength. “We just hit a new high today on the stock market,” he added.
Trump criticised repeated efforts by US lawmakers to limit his authority to conduct military operations. “They go again and again on the war power,” he said. “I’m negotiating a deal with Iran… and every week, every three days, they put in a thing that the war should stop.”
The issue has gained urgency as the 60-day deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution approaches. Under the law, a president must either end military operations or seek congressional approval within that timeframe.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the current ceasefire could pause the timeline. “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses,” he said, according to CNN.
However, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine disagreed, saying, “I do not believe the statute would support that,” and warning that the deadline would raise a “really important legal question” for the administration.
The ongoing tensions have significant implications for global oil markets, particularly as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz impact supply chains.
India, which has long relied on Iranian oil in the past, is watching the situation closely as any disruption in the region could quickly push up fuel costs and strain its energy supplies.
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