US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply dismissed Iran\u2019s military capabilities, claiming Tehran\u2019s forces had been effectively crippled and urging the country to surrender amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Speaking during an Oval Office event, Trump said Iran\u2019s leadership was privately seeking negotiations despite continuing public threats and military rhetoric.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn’t, when your military is totally gone?\u201d Trump told reporters.<\/p>\n
The president added that Iran \u201cshould wave the white flag of surrender\u201d but suggested the country was too proud to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this were a fight, they’d stop it,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
Trump mocks Iran\u2019s military strength<\/p>\n
Trump downplayed the scale of Iran\u2019s remaining military operations, saying the country had been reduced to firing \u201cpeashooters.\u201d<\/p>\n
The remarks came as tensions continued in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been accused of threatening commercial shipping routes despite a fragile ceasefire.<\/p>\n
When asked what actions by Tehran would amount to a violation of the ceasefire, Trump responded cryptically.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you’ll find out, because I’ll let you know … They know what not to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trump also suggested Iran had not yet crossed the line despite recent incidents involving ships in the Gulf.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn’t shoot the ships that were guarded by us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Praise for US blockade and \u2018Project Freedom\u2019<\/p>\n
Trump strongly defended the ongoing US military blockade and escort operations around Iranian waters, describing the campaign as highly effective.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blockade has been amazing. It’s like a piece of steel. Nobody is going to challenge a blockade,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The president praised \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d the US-led operation aimed at reopening commercial shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of regional disruption.<\/p>\n
Trump compared the strategic waterway to a major American highway because of its importance to global energy flows.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like the Long Island Expressway for ships,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of these tankers hold 2 million barrels. It has a big impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rising fuel prices \u2018small price to pay\u2019<\/p>\n
Trump acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to rising fuel prices in the United States but argued the economic impact was justified by national security concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a very small price to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon from people that are really mentally deranged,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
His remarks came as average gasoline prices in the United States climbed to $4.483 per gallon, the highest level since July 2022.<\/p>\n
According to market data, fuel prices have risen 30 cents in the past week and more than $1.30 compared with a year ago.<\/p>\n
Global oil prices also surged after the outbreak of the Iran conflict, though Brent crude later eased to around $111 a barrel on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
US military says ceasefire still holds<\/p>\n
Despite fresh attacks blamed on Iran, senior US military officials insisted the ceasefire had not collapsed.<\/p>\n
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said Iran\u2019s latest actions had not crossed the threshold into \u201cmajor combat operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, the ceasefire is not over,\u201d Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing.<\/p>\n
Caine described Tuesday as a \u201cquieter\u201d day in the Strait of Hormuz despite continuing tensions.<\/p>\n
Iran says US actions violate ceasefire<\/p>\n
Iran, however, accused Washington of violating the ceasefire through its military escort operations and blockade strategy.<\/p>\n
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that Tehran had \u201cnot even begun yet\u201d in responding to US actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America,\u201d he wrote on X.<\/p>\n
Iran also disputed US claims that six Iranian boats had been destroyed, with Iranian state media instead reporting civilian casualties after two small cargo vessels were allegedly hit.<\/p>\n
Shipping crisis continues in Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n
The Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted despite US efforts to restore maritime traffic.<\/p>\n
US officials said only two merchant vessels had safely passed through the new US-protected shipping corridor so far.<\/p>\n
Shipping companies remain cautious due to fears of missile, drone and naval attacks in the narrow waterway, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass.<\/p>\n
German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd said transit through the strait was still \u201cnot possible\u201d for its vessels.<\/p>\n
UAE faces renewed Iranian strikes<\/p>\n
The United Arab Emirates continued facing attacks as regional tensions escalated.<\/p>\n
Authorities said Iranian drones and missiles targeted the country again on Tuesday after earlier strikes set fire to oil infrastructure in Fujairah and damaged cargo vessels.<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the US and UAE \u201cshould be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.\u201d<\/p>\n