President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that the war with Iran is unlikely to conclude this week, despite previous claims of imminent victory. The remarks came during a joint appearance with Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House, their first public event together in two weeks.
When asked if the conflict – which began on February 28 after a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive – could be resolved within days, Trump initially responded with a confident “Yes, of course.” Still, pressed further, he qualified his statement, saying, “I don’t think so, but it will be over soon. Not much longer.” Trump asserted that he “had a duty” to initiate the offensive, aiming for a “safer world” once the war concludes.
Trump expressed surprise at Iran’s retaliatory strikes against neighboring Gulf states following the initial U.S.-Israeli attacks. He stated that he received no prior intelligence suggesting such a response. According to Trump, Iran launched thousands of missiles at countries unprepared for war, and has now depleted its missile arsenal to just 8 percent of its original capacity, with a limited number of operational attack drones remaining.
Donald Trump amerikai elnök a Fehér Ház Ovális Irodájában 2026. Március 16-án – Fotó: Annabelle Gordon / AFP
The ongoing conflict, which began in late February, has raised concerns about wider regional instability. Trump also indicated dissatisfaction with countries he believes are not adequately supporting the U.S. Effort in the war against Iran. He specifically mentioned NATO member states, recounting a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who he said initially hesitated when asked for assistance but later offered some support. “I don’t need your aircraft carriers after we’ve already won the war,” Trump stated.
Trump also said he expects gratitude – and assistance – from nations like Japan, South Korea, and China, which rely heavily on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. “And it’s not just gratitude I expect, they need to help. But what’s surprising is they aren’t really enthusiastic,” he added.
According to Trump, Iran’s entire leadership has “disappeared,” and he “has no idea” who the U.S. Is currently negotiating with. “They’ve all vanished. My biggest problem is I have no idea who we’re dealing with. Nobody has heard of these people, they’re all dead,” Trump said. Earlier in the day, Trump stated that the United States does not know whether Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, “is alive or not.”
(BBC)
