President Donald Trump said Thursday the US was in “no rush” to end the war with Iran, but warned that “the clock is ticking” for the Islamic Republic, as a third American aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East.
“I have all the time in the world, but Iran doesn’t – the clock is ticking!” Trump wrote on social media. He claimed Iran’s military had been destroyed, its leaders were “no longer with us,” and that a blockade was “airtight and strong,” warning that “from there, it only gets worse.”
Speaking later to reporters at the White House, Trump pushed back when asked how long he was willing to wait for a unified response.
“Don’t rush me, Jeff,” Trump said, arguing that the US had spent years in past wars, including Vietnam, Iraq, World War II and Korea, while the current campaign against Iran had lasted only six weeks.
He claimed Iran’s military had been “totally defeated,” saying its navy, air force and air defense systems had been destroyed. Trump said only small armed boats remained, which he referred to as “YSK ships,” adding that U.S. forces would “take them out” if spotted.
Trump also claimed Iran’s leadership had been wiped out, saying the country’s new leaders were “fighting like cats and dogs” over who would take control.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported blasts over Tehran – the first such incidents since a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war came into effect two weeks ago. The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear. An Israeli security source told AFP that Israel was not currently striking Iran.
Prospective peace talks in Pakistan were also hanging in the balance, with no clear sign of a return to diplomacy to end the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.