President Donald Trump bragged that the military might of the United States against Iran had led to members of the Middle Eastern nation’s military abandoning it during a Thursday bilateral in the Oval Office.
“There’s a lot of military defections. You have a lot of military defections in Iran,” Trump said while seated next to the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “I don’t blame them.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prompted Trump’s comments, saying during the bilateral meeting that the U.S is “seeing defections at all levels” in the Iranian military and that the regime will probably “collapse” into itself.
Trump went on to praise the U.S.’s demolition of Iran’s navy and air force after the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28.
“In literally two weeks, we’ve demolished their navy, their air force, all technology is gone, all communication is gone, and all of the leaders are gone,” Trump said. “Other than that, they’re doing quite well.”
But while Iran has been greatly weakened since the war began, it has still been able to close the Strait of Hormuz, leading to higher oil and gas prices globally.
Japan’s prime minister denounced Iran’s attacks in her first visit to the White House since the war began.
“Japan condemns Iran’s actions, such as attacking the neighboring region and also the de facto or effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Takaichi said, according to a translator.
Trump called upon Japan to “step up” in protecting the Strait of Hormuz after NATO allies had demurred on aiding the U.S.
“Honestly, we don’t need anything from Japan or from anyone else. But I think it’s appropriate that people step up,” he said. “In the case of Japan, I hear they get more than 90% of their oil through the strait. So that’s a big business.”
UK, FRANCE, JAPAN, GERMANY, AND OTHERS VOICE READINESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Before the bilateral, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement signaling readiness to secure the critical sea lane.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement reads.
