At a cabinet meeting on March 26, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces had “completely destroyed” Iran’s navy and air force, while also taking out most of its missiles, launchers, and 90% of related facilities. He added that Iran had lost its ability to lay mines and said the military campaign was moving faster than the previously referenced four-to-six-week timeline.
Trump says the operation moved ahead of schedule
According to Trump’s remarks, U.S. strikes had sharply reduced Iran’s military capacity across naval, air, and missile assets. He highlighted the loss of Iran’s mine-laying capability as a key result. Trump also warned that if Tehran refused to reach an agreement, U.S. attacks would continue.
Diplomatic talks remain possible, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center
Even as he described the military action in forceful terms, Trump also pointed to a possible diplomatic outcome. He said Iran was now “begging to make a deal” and predicted the operation against Iran would end soon. In his view, Washington is seeking what he called the “right deal,” with reopening the Strait of Hormuz listed as a major objective.
He stopped short of saying an agreement was close. Trump said the United States was ready to negotiate, but whether a deal could actually be reached would depend on whether Iran showed it was “serious.”
Trump downplays the shock to stocks and oil
On the economic side, Trump said he had expected a much sharper reaction in financial markets, yet the declines in stocks and oil had not been as severe as anticipated. He argued that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would help ease pressure on global energy supplies.
During the same meeting, Trump also described the war involving Iran as a “test” for NATO and said the United States would remember how the alliance performed during the conflict. He also repeated that U.S. military action had stopped what he described as a potential Iranian nuclear threat to Israel, regional countries, and the United States.