US President Donald Trump has strongly defended the ongoing military campaign against Iran, describing the operation as a necessary step to counter what he called a growing nuclear threat.
Speaking at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida, Trump said the war against Iran was not only meant to protect the Middle East but also to safeguard global security.
“This is a service that we’re providing, not for the Middle East but for the world,” Trump said during his address.
Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Casualties
During his speech, Trump made controversial remarks about those killed in the attacks, referring to them as “very sick people.”
“These were sick people, very sick people,” he said while talking about individuals killed during the strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
According to Iranian authorities, the military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,330 people so far.
Claims of Heavy Damage to Iran’s Military
Trump claimed that the US military had inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military infrastructure during the campaign.
He said that the strikes had destroyed a large part of Iran’s naval and air capabilities as well as its communications systems.
“We knocked out 42 navy ships, some were very large, in three days. That was the end of their navy,” Trump said.
He also claimed that US operations had eliminated key components of Iran’s air force and disrupted the country’s telecommunications networks.
Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’ Targeted Nuclear Threat
Trump said one of the main objectives of the campaign was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
He pointed to a specific strike called Operation Midnight Hammer, which involved B-2 bomber aircraft targeting Iranian facilities believed to be linked to nuclear development.
“They were very close to a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “They would have had one if we didn’t do our B-2 hit ‘Midnight Hammer’.”
Acknowledging the Human Cost of War
Despite defending the military operation, Trump acknowledged the toll the conflict has taken on human lives.
The US president said he plans to travel to Dover to meet the families of American service members who were killed during the conflict.
“I’ll be leaving for Dover. Very sad situation to greet the families of the heroes coming home from Iran,” he said.
Trump noted that casualties are an unfortunate reality of war but insisted efforts are being made to limit them.
“There’s always, when it comes to war, there’s always that, but we’re gonna keep it to a minimum,” he added.
War Enters Second Week Amid Diplomatic Signals
The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has now entered its second week, raising concerns about a wider regional war.
Trump has repeatedly stated that the United States will only accept Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as a resolution to the conflict.
At the same time, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian recently indicated that some countries have begun mediation efforts, raising a small possibility of diplomatic talks.
Conflict Spreads Across the Region
The war has already expanded beyond Iran’s borders, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes against Israel and several Gulf countries that host US military bases.
The escalating tensions have also shaken global financial markets and pushed oil prices higher as investors worry about prolonged instability in the Middle East.
As the conflict continues, uncertainty remains about how long the war will last and whether diplomatic efforts can eventually bring an end to the fighting.