Washington DC: President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Tehran on Tuesday, asserting that Iran's military infrastructure and leadership have been effectively dismantled. Speaking from the Oval Office during a proclamation signing, the President described a "broken adversary" whose private desperation contradicts its public defiance.

The President dismissed Iran's official messaging as a facade for a nation on the brink of collapse, claiming that the country’s defensive capabilities have been totally eroded by US pressure.

"Iran has no chance. They never did. They know it. They express it to me when I talk to them. Then they get on television and say how well they're doing," Trump said.

President Trump provided a sweeping list of Iranian assets he claims have been neutralised, emphasising the dominance of the US military and the effectiveness of current maritime operations.

"They have no Navy—totally wiped out. They have no Air Force—totally wiped out. They have no anti-aircraft capability, totally wiped out, no radar. They have no leaders. The leaders are wiped out. The whole thing," the President stated.

He further praised the "unbelievable" performance of the US Navy, specifically citing the success of a naval blockade in intercepting Iranian vessels. "We're the hottest country in the world," he added.

Strategic tensions and ‘Project Freedom’

While the President focused on military neutralisation, senior defense officials highlighted the economic stakes of the conflict. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of "weaponising" global supply chains by targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

General Caine noted that Iran’s interference in the strait—a corridor for roughly 20% of global oil consumption—amounts to holding the "global economy hostage" in violation of the Law of the Sea.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth joined the briefing to define the parameters of Project Freedom. Hegseth characterised the mission as a "locked and loaded" defensive initiative designed to terminate Iranian interference in international waters and restore maritime security.

ANI