US President Donald Trump has declared Iran “militarily defeated” and vowed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz soon, with or without Tehran’s cooperation. His remarks come ahead of crucial US-Iran negotiations scheduled to take place.
Speaking in a media interview, Donald Trump said both the war and ongoing diplomatic efforts have a single objective: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
He emphasized that regime change was never part of the original plan but claimed it has effectively occurred. “The first priority is that there will be no nuclear weapons,” Trump said, adding that 99% of the mission was focused on eliminating that threat.
Trump asserted that Iran has been defeated on the battlefield, leaving no need for a backup strategy. He said the country’s military capabilities have been severely degraded.
“Their Navy and Air Force are gone. The anti-aircraft system was also destroyed. Their leader was also killed, everything is gone,” he stated, adding that Iran now has very few missiles left and limited production capacity.
He praised the US military’s performance, calling its work “very impressive,” and said Iran had been defeated “in every aspect.”
Strait of Hormuz to open ‘very soon’
A major focus of Trump’s remarks was the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. He insisted that the passage would be fully operational soon.
“The Strait of Hormuz is going to open very soon. Whether they support it or not, we will open the Gulf,” he said.
Trump also warned that the US would not allow Iran to impose charges on ships passing through the strait, adding that action would be taken if Tehran failed to comply.
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“If they don’t open it themselves, we will make them open,” he declared.
While confident, Trump admitted reopening the strait would not be easy. He noted that other countries had offered assistance, though he did not name them.
“Other countries use the strait... they’ll help out,” he said, reiterating that the process would be complex but achievable in the near future.
Talks with Iran delegation ahead
Looking ahead to diplomacy, Trump confirmed that senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, will meet Iranian representatives soon.
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He expressed cautious optimism, saying, “Let’s see what happens. The matter is big.”
Trump also acknowledged Pakistan’s role, noting that Islamabad had “sent a good team for negotiations,” as the country prepares to host the high-stakes talks.
No backup plan as pressure mounts
Despite uncertainties, Trump maintained that Washington does not need an alternative plan. He reiterated that Iran’s weakened position leaves little room for resistance.
“We do not need any backup plan. Their army has been defeated,” he said.
He concluded by stressing that the US would ensure both the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the prevention of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, regardless of whether a deal is reached.
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