Trump Claims US Victory in War with Iran, Vows to Complete Mission

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his country has won the war against Iran but U.S. forces will continue their presence to complete the mission.

Speaking at a rally, Trump said: "You never want to say too soon that you've won, but we won. It was over in the first hour." He claimed U.S. forces destroyed 58 Iranian navy ships and praised the military for weakening Iran's capabilities. Trump emphasized that quickly ending the conflict is not on the agenda, adding: "We don't want to leave the field early; we have to finish the job." He said the U.S. has "almost destroyed Iran" and operations may continue for some time to prevent future tensions.

Iran has warned that if U.S. and Israeli attacks continue, it will not allow even "one liter of oil" to leave the Middle East. In response, Trump warned that if oil exports are halted, the U.S. will increase the intensity of attacks 20-fold.

These remarks followed severe fluctuations in global financial markets, particularly after Iran's appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as its new leader. Trump said the U.S. has inflicted major damage on Iran's military capabilities and predicted the war could end sooner than expected, though he did not define victory clearly.

Israel has stated the war's goal is to overthrow Iran's ruling regime, while U.S. officials emphasize destroying Iran's rocket and nuclear programs. Trump said the war will end only when Iran's government agrees to U.S. demands.

Iran's representative to the United Nations stated that since late February air and rocket attacks by the U.S. and Israel began, at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands wounded.

Trump warned that if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, U.S. attacks will increase dramatically. The conflict has halted oil tanker traffic in the strait for over a week, stopping some production and causing sharp rises in global oil prices.

Iran's Assembly of Experts, comprising 88 clerics, unanimously selected Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former leader Ali Khamenei, as the new leader on Sunday night. Ali Khamenei was killed in an early U.S.-Israeli attack over a week ago. Trump reacted by saying, "We'll see what happens."

The U.S. has ordered non-essential staff to leave its embassy in Saudi Arabia amid rising regional tensions.