Washington, D.C., March 8 (ANI): US President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States had ‘wiped out the entire leadership’ in Iran and called the action the removal of a major ‘cancer,’ adding that US military operations there would continue for the time being.
Asked about attribution for a bombing of an elementary girls’ school in Iran, Trump denied US involvement and blamed the incident on Iran itself, saying Iranian munitions are ‘very inaccurate’ and ‘have no accuracy whatsoever.’ He made the remarks aboard Air Force One en route to Miami.
Trump said the US has achieved more than expected in the recent campaign and described heavy damage to Iran’s military capabilities. He claimed the US had ‘wiped out’ Iran’s navy, citing 44 ships, destroyed its air force, degraded missile stocks, hit missile manufacturing sites, and reduced Iran’s drone capacity. ‘We’re winning the war by a lot,’ he said, calling the campaign ‘as good as it can be.’
On a suggested timeline, Trump said he does not set firm deadlines: ‘I never project time, whatever it takes.’ He added that Iran’s military is ‘almost nonexistent’ and that Washington could strike further if it chooses. He also said missile production had been hit hard, reducing output to roughly nine percent of what was launched in the first two days, and that about 70 percent of rockets and launchers had been knocked out, remarks presented as his assessment.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, traveling with the president, said a negotiated settlement with Tehran remains possible but would require a change in Iran’s stance. He relayed that Iran had defended its enrichment program, claimed possession of high-enriched material, and told US negotiators that it would not offer what it could not be compelled to give militarily.
UK Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat told ANI many countries and expatriates are worried about wider regional consequences, naming the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. He also warned of energy price impacts and urged a quick resolution for the sake of the global economy and families worldwide.
The remarks came after a joint US-Israel strike on February 28 that the report said killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior figures, which Tehran followed with retaliatory launches. Iran has since struck at US assets and regional allies with ballistic missiles and drones, targeting multiple countries including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The exchanges have broadened the conflict in West Asia and raised concerns for civilians and expatriates across the region.
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