President Donald Trump declined to say definitively whether a ceasefire with Iran had ended during a Monday phone interview with Hugh Hewitt, after Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates. Pressed on whether Monday’s attacks marked a renewed conflict, Trump insisted that the United States would prevail, saying the outcome would be either a negotiated deal or an easy military victory and that, from his view, the U.S. has already won militarily.
Trump asserted that Iran’s naval strength has been eliminated, claiming that a fleet he said once numbered 159 ships is now gone. He stopped short of formally accusing Tehran of breaching the ceasefire, saying only that officials would see what happens next while stressing U.S. military capabilities.
Asked how long the fighting might continue, Trump projected the campaign could last “probably another two weeks” or “maybe three weeks,” adding that the U.S. is not constrained by time and that he believes there is broad public support for the military effort.
Trump also said U.S. forces have asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz as part of an operation he referred to as “Project Freedom,” claiming the U.S. took control after Iran had indicated it might seize the waterway. On energy markets, he warned that oil prices could spike substantially and suggested they might rise as high as $250 a barrel, while noting that some ships are now heading to the United States for oil.
On Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium — a central negotiating point for Washington — Trump downplayed its value, suggesting it may be unusable. He touted a June military action he described as aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities and said he would like to recover the uranium so Tehran could not be tempted to use it.
He also said he believes the Iranian people would rise up against their government if they had greater access to weapons.
Reporters: ABC News’ Nicholas Kerr, Emily Chang and Michelle Stoddart.