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Trump Declares Victory Over Iran — But Says the Fight Isn’t Over Yet

U.S. President Donald Trump told supporters in Hebron, Kentucky that the United States had already “won” its conflict with Iran, even as military operations continue. Speaking at a campaign-style rally, Trump argued that the outcome of the confrontation was effectively decided in its earliest phase, though he emphasized that American forces would remain engaged to complete their objectives.

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Trump said it is usually risky to declare victory too soon in a conflict, but insisted the situation was different in this case. According to the president, U.S. military actions quickly overwhelmed Iranian capabilities. He told the crowd that “within the first hour” the direction of the conflict was already clear, suggesting that early operations had dramatically shifted the balance of power.

During the speech, Trump also claimed that U.S. forces had sunk 58 Iranian naval vessels in the course of the fighting. He described the action as a decisive strike that significantly weakened Iran’s military presence. The president did not present specific evidence for the figure, but said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of the American military.

While highlighting what he described as major battlefield successes, Trump signaled that Washington is not ready to bring the conflict to a close. He told supporters that leaving the fight too early could undermine the strategic gains already achieved. Instead, he argued that the United States must remain involved until its broader objectives are fully secured.

“We don’t want to leave too early,” Trump said, emphasizing that the mission should be completed before the United States steps back. His remarks reflected a balancing act between declaring victory and maintaining pressure on Iran, as the administration seeks to avoid a scenario where hostilities flare up again in the near future.

Trump went further by claiming that U.S. strikes had “almost completely destroyed” Iran’s military capacity. The statement appeared aimed at reassuring supporters that the campaign has significantly weakened Tehran’s ability to project power. Analysts note that such claims are difficult to verify independently during an active conflict.

Beyond the military dimension, Trump also addressed economic concerns during interviews surrounding the rally. He suggested that the United States could adjust its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to influence energy prices. By releasing some oil from reserves, he said, the administration hopes to ease fuel costs while maintaining the country’s overall energy security.

According to reports cited by CNN, global energy markets remain sensitive to the conflict. At around midday on March 11, Brent crude prices were hovering near 91 dollars per barrel. The ongoing tensions with Iran continue to shape market expectations and add uncertainty to global energy supplies.

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Trump Says U.S. Had No Advance Knowledge of Israeli Strike on Iran’s ‘Extremely Valuable’ South Pars Gas Field
Trump Says U.S. Had No Advance Knowledge of Israeli Strike on Iran’s ‘Extremely Valuable’ South Pars Gas Field U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had no prior knowledge of an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, while asserting that no further attacks on the site would take place. In a post on March 18, Trump said Israel had carried out a strike targeting South Pars Gas Field—the world’s largest natural gas field located offshore in Iran’s southern Bushehr province—but added that only a small portion of the facility was hit. According to Trump, the United States was not informed in advance of the operation. He also stressed that Qatar “was not involved in any way” and had no foreknowledge of the strike. U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo: White House). The U.S. president said that due to a lack of clarity about the incident and its details, Iran responded with what he described as an “unreasonable and unjust” attack on part of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure. Trump said Israel would not conduct any further strikes on South Pars unless Iran continues attacking Qatar, which he described as “completely innocent” in the situation. “Israel will not carry out any additional attacks related to this extremely important and valuable South Pars gas field unless Iran continues to strike Qatar—a country entirely uninvolved in this matter,” Trump wrote. He warned that if Iran persists in targeting Qatar, the United States would “destroy the entire South Pars gas field” with a level of force Iran “has never seen before.” At the same time, Trump said he does not wish to authorize such a level of violence due to the long-term consequences it could have for Iran’s future. “However, if Qatar’s LNG facilities continue to be attacked, I will not hesitate to act,” he added. Iran has not publicly commented on Trump’s statements. Earlier, Iranian state media reported that natural gas facilities linked to South Pars had come under attack. The Times of Israel also cited Israeli officials as saying the country’s air force conducted strikes on the gas infrastructure on March 18. Shortly afterward, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to target oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, raising concerns about potential disruptions to regional energy supplies. Later on March 18 (local time), Qatari authorities reported a fire at the Ras Laffan Industrial City gas facility following what was described as an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Qatar’s Interior Ministry later said the fire had been brought under control.