Trump claims Iran's first- and second-string leaders are gone, questions who US is negotiating with

US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's top military leaders had been eliminated during American airstrikes, questioning the United States' negotiating partners as he predicted the conflict would conclude "very, very soon." Addressing a campaign rally in Montana, Trump stated that Iran's military strength had been significantly diminished, claiming the country was no longer "the bully of the Middle East."

He predicted a sharp decline in oil prices once the fighting ceased and mocked Iran's position in negotiations, saying its primary demand was for the United States to stop attacking. Trump did not offer concrete evidence to support his claims about Iran's weakened military capabilities. He reiterated that the US military operation had dealt a strong blow to Iran, stating the nation was no longer as powerful as it once was.

Trump criticized past administrations for not taking action sooner, describing the campaign as long overdue to curb Tehran's influence in the region. He forecasted the conflict's swift end, warning that it would conclude "one way or the other." Trump also claimed Iran had no operational fighter jets, alleging that its aircraft had been destroyed during the strikes.

Despite potential impacts on energy prices, Trump defended the military campaign, emphasizing the priority of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He predicted that oil prices would drop sharply after hostilities ended, viewing any temporary increase in costs as a necessary trade-off to achieve this goal. Trump concluded by defending his prediction that the conflict would end quickly, linking its resolution to his forecast of lower oil prices.