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From state of Iran's leader to Strait of Hormuz: 4 of Trump's latest claims about the war
Consistent with his previous statements, Trump once again declared that Iran wants to make a deal, but the US President 'doesn't know if they are ready yet'
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 12:13 AM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
On Day 17 of the US-Israel-Iran war, US President Donald Trump held a press conference, where he spoke on a wide range of topics, from the strikes in Iran, to the efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Although the occasion was a board meeting for the Trump Kennedy Centre, the US President said he would brief the media on developments in the Middle East.
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Here are some of the statements and claims Trump made during the press conference:
Speaking on Iran's capabilities
Trump claimed that Iran's Air Force, Navy is "gone". He stated that since the beginning of the war, US has struck over 7,000 targets across Iran, mostly commercial and military.
"Today, US attacked three missile, drone manufacturing sites." Meanwhile, over 100 Iranian naval vessels were sunk or destroyed over the last week and a half, he claimed.
The US President also said Iran's ballistic missile launches have reduced by 90 per cent, and drone attacks by 95 per cent. US has "destroyed 30 mine-laying ships" of Iran, he claimed. He also added that Iran "has very few shots left".
Kharg Island attacks, Strait of Hormuz
Kharg Island was attacked, and "everything destroyed except for the pipes," Trump said, adding that the pipes were spared because it takes a lot of time to rebuild.
Trump has repeatedly called on global powers to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that other countries need it "far more" than the US does. In today's press con, he said US "gets less than one per cent of their oil from Strait of Hormuz, while Japan gets 95 per cent and China gets over 90 per cent."
Trump has admitted that some countries are "not very enthusiastic" about securing the key trade route; however, numerous nations are ready, he said.
Speaking on the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi has earlier said the US security umbrella has "proven to be full of holes". He added that the States is "begging others, even China, to help it make Hormuz safe."
On deal with Iran
Consistent with his previous statements, Trump once again declared that Iran wants to make a deal, but the US President "doesn't know if they are ready yet".
However, Iran has maintained that they do not see any reason for talks, with Araghchi earlier saying claims of Tehran seeking a truce are "delusional."
Iran is using disinformation and AI to show things that "never happened", including depicting the USS Abraham Lincoln on fire, he added.
A reporter pointed out that Trump's adviser David Sachs held the view that US should "declare victory and get out of the Iran war." The adviser also reportedly warned that if the conflict escalates, Israel might "contemplate the use of a nuclear weapon".
Responding to the reporter, Trump said "Israel would never do that," and implied that while the US could just leave [the war] now, the "aim is to have it ended" so that another US President does not have to do this again.
On Iran's leaders
Asked about a chance for the Iranian opposition to gain power, Trump said Iran's opposition doesn't have much of a chance since they do not have guns and the "other side has" advanced weaponry.
The US President admitted he was unsure about the state of Iran's leader, quoting other people's accounts, rather than any credible intelligence.
"A lot of people are saying he is badly disfigured, while others are saying he is dead; no one is saying he is 100 per cent healthy," Trump claimed.
On March 11, an Iranian official clarified to Reuters that the country's newly-appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is continuing to operate, although he is lightly injured.
Trump ended the press conference with an iteration of his classic justification of the war, claiming that if Iran was "allowed to have a nuclear weapon, the Middle East would be gone".
Poojaraj Maniyeri is a Digital Journalist who loves turning everyday conversations into news stories. She is also a typical bookworm, and brings a novel with her everywhere she goes.