"We've beaten and completely decimated Iran. They are decimated, both militarily and economically and every other way."
That was Trump, declaring in sweeping terms that the United States has crushed the Islamic Republic on two fronts — military and economic — a bold assertion about a nation that remains a functioning state with significant regional influence.
The declaration came as part of a broader boast about American energy dominance and self-sufficiency. Trump said the US is now "number one producer of oil and gas on the planet," producing more than Saudi Arabia and Russia combined.
"The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future," Trump said. "We don't need it. We haven't needed it, and we don't need it."
We've beaten and completely decimated Iran. They are decimated, both militarily and economically and every other way.
Trump shifted the burden of securing the Strait of Hormuz to other nations. "The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage," he said. "They must cherish it. They must grab it and cherish it. They can do it easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on."
The comments also referenced "millions of barrels" the US is getting from Venezuela, framing that supply as part of America's energy position.
Trump's claim of having "completely decimated" Iran is not corroborated by independent reporting in this source, and characterizes a state that continues to operate as a regional power across the Middle East.