Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' after obliterating nearly '90 percent' of regime missiles
President Donald Trump revealed more plans for the war with Iran, vowing to continue "decimating" the regime over the coming days and touting the mission as "ahead of schedule."
"We had no idea it would be this far ahead. We’ve knocked out close to 90% of their missiles," Trump said in an interview that aired Friday on the "Brian Kilmeade Show."
The president said the U.S. has taken out the majority of Iran’s missiles and drone manufacturing sites, adding that the military is "hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II."
BEFORE-AND-AFTER SATELLITE IMAGERY OFFERS A RARE LOOK AT DAMAGE INSIDE IRAN
While Trump did not provide a specific timeline for the conclusion of what he called an "excursion," he said the U.S. has "virtually unlimited ammunition."
The president also said the U.S. is prepared to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary to protect oil shipments. The Iranian Navy has claimed responsibility for a series of strikes on commercial vessels transiting the strait.
TRUMP WARNS OF IRANIAN 'SLEEPER CELLS' AS CANADA ACCUSED OF HARBORING REGIME OPERATIVES
The disruptions have sent oil prices soaring. Trump said the U.S. would escort the vessels "if we needed to," adding that pressure on Iran would increase this week.
"We've already damaged them so badly it would take years for them to ever rebuild," Trump said, adding, "And we're going to be hitting them very hard over the next week."
The military campaign has already resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the next supreme leader. Trump criticized the decision in remarks this week.
The new supreme leader released a statement Thursday vowing that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the war ends and warning neighboring countries that U.S. military bases must be removed.
In a post on Truth Social Friday, Trump alluded to further imminent action, writing, "Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth."
He continued, writing, "We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today."
The United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury after nuclear negotiations with Tehran failed, a move Trump cited as justification for the military campaign.