US-Iran War Live: 'I hope Iran will be smart, but we'll win anyway,' says Trump
US President Donald Trump has indicated that the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran could be nearing an end, asserting that mounting military and economic pressure has placed Tehran in a weakened position and may push it towards a resolution.
Speaking to Fox News on the evolving situation, Trump said, "I think the big advantage is that we've taken out their navy in its entirety... They have no air force left. They have no navy left...They're in bad shape. I mean, they're really in bad shape. And of course, we've done the blockade, and the blockade's been unbelievably effective, and that means they can't get any more money," he said, pointing to what he described as extensive damage to Iran's military and industrial capabilities.
Trump added that internal divisions within Iran's leadership could further accelerate the path to an outcome. "Their leaders are gone, which is a good thing. They were far more radicalised than the people that we're dealing with now.
The people we're dealing with now, some of them are very reasonable people, and others are not. And they're not getting along. You know, there's a lot of in-fighting as you know. But you know, they don't have anti-aircraft equipment, they don't have radar equipment.
It's all been blown up. Their factories, their missile-making factories have been damaged about 75%, which isn't 100%, so there's danger there," he said, expressing hope that Tehran would take a pragmatic approach moving forward.
Trump further signalled confidence that the situation could conclude in Washington's favour. "I hope they're going to be smart, and if they're not smart, we're going to win anyway," he said, suggesting that an end to the standoff may be approaching.