According to a Reuters report of Saturday 28 of March 2026, the United States (US) President Donald Trump has said on Friday that American military operations have severely weakened Iran’s armed forces, claiming the country’s air, naval and command capabilities have been dismantled and its leadership structure effectively eliminated.
Speaking during a public appearance, Trump described what he portrayed as a sweeping military success, asserting that Iran no longer maintains a functional defence system or coordinated leadership.
“Now they’re 100% dead. They have 22 mine droppers. The mine droppers, 22, all 22 are gone. So I guess they can drop mines, but they’re gonna have to take them out by a rowboat, ’cause they don’t have any boats. Their air force is dead, totally, completely dead. It’s out of business, no planes left at all. Their anti-aircraft and communications capabilities are totally dismantled and dead. Their leaders are all dead. Other than that, I think they’re doing quite well,” Trump said.
The remarks suggested that Iran’s ability to conduct coordinated military operations has been significantly reduced. Trump indicated that both defensive systems and logistical structures had been targeted, leaving the country unable to respond effectively.
He went further, claiming that Iran’s political leadership had collapsed, including its highest-ranking figures. According to Trump, there has been no visible succession or effort to restore command authority.
“No, their leaders are dead. Their supreme leader is no longer supreme. He’s dead. His son is either dead or in very bad shape, ’cause nobody’s heard from him. I think he says, ‘Just keep me out of this.’ This is the only country where nobody wants to lead. There’s nobody who would like to lead Iran. ‘Please, raise your hand,’ a big audience, to say, ‘Who would like to be our leader? Dead salary.’ Nobody wants to,” Trump added.
The claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate response from Iranian officials regarding the statements. Analysts note that such assertions, if accurate, would represent a major escalation with far-reaching consequences for regional stability.
Trump’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East,where military activity has increased in recent days. Observers continue to monitor developments closely as questions remain over the situation on the ground and the extent of the reported damage.
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