President of the United States, Donald Trump, has described Iran as a nation that built “great terror and power,” while defending the ongoing U.S.-led military operations against the country.

Speaking at the White House ahead of a board meeting for the rebranded John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trump said the military action was aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which he claimed would endanger the entire Middle East.

According to him, Iran’s military capabilities had expanded over the years through the production of thousands of missiles and drones, posing a major threat to regional and global security.

“You cannot allow the most violent and vicious country in the last 50 years to possess a nuclear weapon because the Middle East will be wiped out,” Trump said.

He added that Israel remained highly vulnerable, warning that Tehran could target both Israel and the United States if left unchecked.

Trump further claimed that more than 7,000 targets, including military and commercial facilities, had been hit during the campaign, with ballistic missile launches and drone attacks reduced significantly.

He said major components of Iran’s air and naval forces had been destroyed, while over 100 naval vessels were reportedly sunk and missile production facilities repeatedly struck.

The U.S. leader also alleged that several senior Iranian figures had been eliminated in multiple phases of the operation, creating uncertainty within the country’s leadership structure.

Referring to the 1979 revolution, Trump argued that Iran had remained a source of instability for nearly five decades and accused previous American administrations of failing to confront the threat decisively.

On the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump said Iran had previously used the waterway to threaten global economic stability through mine deployment and limited attacks.

He noted that mine-laying vessels had been destroyed and expressed optimism that the route would soon reopen fully, though he stressed the need for allied support to prevent renewed threats.

Trump also said Iran may be considering negotiations, but questioned who exactly Washington could engage with, claiming that several key figures in Tehran had either been killed or incapacitated.

Despite the remarks, Iran has not publicly confirmed any readiness for talks and has continued to maintain its official position amid the ongoing military confrontation.

Oil prices and inflation, Trump added, would likely decline rapidly once the operation concludes.