‘We wiped out everything’: Trump on Iran strikes at Air Force One event

News

World

Trump says US destroyed Iran's navy and air force, defends decision to stop strikes

Donald Trump went further still, suggesting the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran.

4 min readJun 20, 2026 01:34 PM IST

First published on: Jun 20, 2026 at 12:06 PM IST

President Donald Trump speaks after touring the newly designated Air Force One presidential aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (Photo: AP)

Days after signing a peace agreement with Iran, US President Donald Trump is increasingly framing the conflict as a decisive American victory, claiming Tehran’s military capabilities were largely destroyed while defending his decision to pursue a negotiated settlement rather than a prolonged campaign.

“You’re going to see oil drop so low, I hope the companies are happy about it,” he said.

Trump on attacking Iran again:

Remember, if we do that, then all of a sudden you're not going to have the oil flowing out of the strait too quickly.

People that own billion-dollar ships don't love missiles flying over them. pic.twitter.com/ptnKa0gI2y

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2026

“We have the greatest military in the world. You saw that in Iran, in one week, virtually, we knocked out their entire navy, their entire air force, their radar. We wiped out everything,” he said.

Trump repeats claim in Axios interview

Trump made a near-identical claim in a separate interview with Axios published this week, when asked what he had learned about the limits of his power following the Iran war. Rejecting the idea that the conflict had exposed any limits, he said: “There are no limits.” He continued: “I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits.”

He told Axios’ Marc Caputo: “We defeated them totally militarily. However, beginning of conflict… in one week virtually, we knocked out their entire navy, their entire air force, their anti-missile weapons, their radar… we knocked out everything,” dismissing criticism that the strikes had not gone far enough as coverage from “the fake news”.

Trump on Iran:

I took out their biggest bridge because they showed up late at a meeting. They said that wasn't very nice.

That bridge, that's their George Washington Bridge. I wiped it out in three minutes.

Source: Axios pic.twitter.com/eyZ7EdRWez

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2026

Trump went further still, suggesting the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Iran this week “probably is unconditional surrender” on Tehran’s part.

Why Trump stopped short of further strikes

Trump defended his decision to settle for a negotiated agreement rather than continue military action, framing it as a practical choice driven by economic risk rather than any retreat. “The only way I can get tougher is if I go in there for another two or three weeks and continue to bomb the hell out of ’em. Right? But what does that get us? The Strait of Hormuz will not be open,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

“We wouldn’t have oil for months. As long as you’re dropping bombs, that thing is automatically closed,” he added, calling the scenario “the kind of thing that could cause a worldwide depression.”

A pattern of escalating claims

Trump’s remarks add to a string of sweeping statements about the war’s outcome over the past week. On Truth Social on Friday, he wrote that Iran “is FINISHED” and would receive “not ten cents” from the US during the 60-day negotiating window now underway. “The War has diminished Iran! It doesn’t, any longer, have an Air Force, a Navy, Antiaircraft Equipment, Radar, or practically anything else,” he wrote, adding: “How stupid can some people be???”

Trump on Iran:

Now we have an agreement that was signed last night, and it's 60 days.

They have to make a deal; otherwise, we'll do things that won't make them happy, but I don't think it's gonna get to that. pic.twitter.com/l6wPcDfgsS

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2026

These claims sit uneasily against the terms of the MoU itself, which includes immediate US sanctions waivers on Iranian oil exports, a commitment to unfreeze Iranian assets, and a pledge to establish a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran concessions that go well beyond what “not ten cents” would suggest.

Trump’s position has also shifted on Iran’s missile programme. He entered the war demanding Iran’s unconditional surrender and the destruction of its ballistic missile capability. At the G7 summit in France this week, he said Iran should be allowed to keep “some” missiles “because other people have some,” and that “missiles aren’t the problem” since “they don’t blow up the planet.”

With inputs from agencies

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

# donald trump

Loading Recommendations...

01

02

03

04

05

Live Blog