Trump frames the fight as limited
President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the Iran conflict as a "minor attack" and insisted it was "not really war," during a lengthy call-in appearance with US television hosts Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade. He said American forces had struck hard at the start but that the fighting since then was far smaller than wars such as Russia–Ukraine or a world war.
The Iran conflict has run for more than eight months and, according to the discussion, has left 23 American service members dead. Trump still cast recent action as contained, telling the hosts that Washington was "very strong" and that Iran had been "decapitated."
Overnight strike and claimed damage
Trump said US forces hit an Iranian anti-aircraft facility "last night," after watching it being built for about two months. He called that raid a "minor attack" and "not big war," adding that some anti-aircraft systems were taken out then.
He claimed Iran no longer has a navy, that "every ship is at the bottom of the sea," and that its aircraft lie in "tiny pieces" on runways. He also said the United States had knocked out Iran’s nuclear capability, leaving "thousands of tons of rocks" under surveillance and ready to be hit again if anyone returned.
Nuclear deal, Hormuz and what he says comes next
Trump tied the campaign to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the 2015 nuclear deal under former president Barack Obama that limited Iran’s nuclear work. He called that deal a "terrible" short-term pact he terminated in his first term, saying it would otherwise have expired three years ago and that Iran had been close to a weapon. He labelled Iran the world’s top state sponsor of terror and said the Middle East had long feared it.
Asked about the next move after election day, he said he was "not looking to kill lots of people" but would if necessary. He compared the situation to Venezuela, where he said fighting ended in roughly 42 to 48 minutes and that the United States was now taking in large oil and cash flows. Iran, he suggested, could follow a similar path "in a way, better." He also said America has "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz and that, with tools such as the Space Force he said he created in his first term, the United States can keep Iranian sites under close watch.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2015: The JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran is reached under President Barack Obama.
- Trump’s first term: Trump says he terminated the JCPOA, calling that decision one of his major steps.
- Past eight-plus months: The Iran conflict continues; 23 American service members are dead.
- About two months before Tuesday: Trump says Iran built an anti-aircraft facility while the US watched.
- Night before the interview: Trump says US forces hit that anti-aircraft facility.
- Tuesday: Trump calls the Iran conflict a "minor attack" and "not really war" in the television appearance.
Aasan alfaaz mein
US ke president Trump ne Iran ke sath chal rahe mamlay ko "chhota sa hamla" kaha hai, poori jang nahi. Yeh mamla aath mahine se zyada chal raha hai aur 23 American fauji mar chuke hain. Trump ke mutabiq America ne raat ko Iran ki anti-aircraft jagah par hamla kiya aur Hormuz ke raste par control hai. Pakistanis ke liye asar oil aur petrol ke rates, Gulf jobs aur rupee par hosakta hai—lekin abhi yeh andaza hai, pakka nateeja nahi.
