Washington: US President Donald Trump has said the United States will win the ongoing war with Iran, regardless of whether the two sides reach a negotiated agreement.
Responding to questions about a possible deal with Tehran and the deployment of additional US forces to the region, Trump said the United States would either reach a “good deal” with Iran or there would be no agreement.
His remarks were reported in a Fox News interview. Trump claimed that Iran wants a deal but is not yet ready to reach one.
He also asserted that US military strikes had destroyed Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons, saying that without the US operation, Tehran would have been able to build a nuclear bomb.
The US president further claimed that Iran’s economy was in an extremely weak condition, with inflation exceeding 300 percent. He described Tehran as being in a “very weak” position.
On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the United States had control of the strategic waterway. He also claimed that US forces were able to move ships through the strait at night because Iranian radar systems had been destroyed.
The White House has separately asserted that US forces control the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s comments came a day after he said he hoped the war with Iran was moving toward an end.
However, he also said Thursday that he was facing a major decision over the next phase of US military action against Tehran.
The conflict has continued for more than six months, with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and regional shipping routes remaining a major concern for global energy markets.