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TRANSCRIPT
The war involving the US, Israel and Iran is entering a volatile new phase.
US President Donald Trump says the military campaign has already dealt a decisive blow to Iran’s armed forces.
But across the region the fighting continues to widen, missiles and drones are striking multiple countries, and hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled their homes.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, President Trump said the joint US and Israeli campaign had rapidly dismantled much of Iran’s military capability.
He told journalists the operation had destroyed key military infrastructure in the opening days of the war.
REPORTER: “Mr. President, you've said the war is, quote, very complete, but your defence secretary says, this is just the beginning. So which is it? And how long should Americans–”
TRUMP: "I think it could say both. The beginning– it's the beginning of building a new country. But they certainly — they have no Navy. They have no Air Force. They have no anti-aircraft equipment. It's all been blown up. They have no radar. They have no telecommunications. And they have no leadership. It's all gone. So, you know, you could look at that statement. We could — we could call it a tremendous success.”
President Trump says the aim of the campaign is to ensure Iran cannot rebuild weapons that could threaten the US, Israel or their allies.
REPORTER: “You said earlier that we've already won in many ways, but we haven't one enough. What do you consider enough? What's your baseline?"
TRUMP: “When they're not going to be starting the following day to develop a nuclear weapon. ... When basically I can see that they will no longer have any capacity whatsoever for a very long period of time of developing weaponry that could be used against the United States, Israel or any of our allies.”
He also reacted to Iran’s reported decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new leader.
Mr Trump says he is disappointed with that choice and believes it could simply continue the same political direction in Tehran.
REPORTER: “The new supreme leader, do you have to take him out? Does he have a target on his back?”
TRUMP: “You mean the new supreme leader? You mean the son?
REPORTER: How can there be an Iran…”
TRUMP: “Well, I don't want to, I don't want to say that. But, you know, I was disappointed because we think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. So I was disappointed to see their choice.”
The US President also confirmed he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conflict.
The Kremlin says President Putin called for an immediate halt to the fighting, warning the war risks destabilising the wider Middle East.
Russia has criticised the US and Israeli strikes on Iran as a dangerous escalation.
The conflict is also rattling global energy markets.
Oil prices surged as fighting threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump says Washington is easing some oil related sanctions to help stabilise supply.
“We're also waiving certain oil related sanctions to reduce prices. So we have sanctions on some countries, we're going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out. Then who knows? Maybe we won't have to put them on. There'll be so much peace. But when the time comes, the U.S. Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the strait if needed. I hope it's not going to be needed, but if it's needed, we'll escort them right through.”
The conflict is also spreading beyond Iran itself.
Iran has launched missiles and drones at Israel and at US bases across the region.
Several Gulf states hosting US forces, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have also been targeted or placed on high alert.
Israel has responded with a wider regional campaign.
Israeli forces continue striking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon while carrying out sustained air operations inside Iran.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin says thousands of targets have been hit since the campaign began.
As with many battlefield claims, the figures released by the parties cannot be independently verified.
“We are on the tenth day of Operation Roaring Lion. The air force continued throughout the day to strike Iranian regime targets in Tehran, Isfahan and south Iran. In the last ten days, we have struck and destabilized the Iranian terror regime. Since the beginning of the operation, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has eliminated more than 1900 soldiers and commanders of the regime and injured thousands more. We have many more targets. This is an ongoing effort. We are intensifying the severe impact on all layers and structures of the regime.”
Hezbollah says it will keep fighting despite Israel’s offensive, as the humanitarian toll rises.
The United Nations warns strikes on oil facilities and water infrastructure could pose serious environmental and public health risks across the region.
Human Rights Watch has also accused Israel of using artillery-fired white phosphorus in populated areas of southern Lebanon, citing verified images from the town of Yohmor on March third.
Meanwhile, Beirut’s Camille Chamoun stadium has been turned into a shelter for families displaced by the fighting.
One of them is resident Samia Sweidan, who says many fled their homes with nothing.
“By God, I am a diabetes patient, and to be honest I'm embarrassed to ask anyone for help, but I have no one else to turn to, except for you and God. May God destroy Israel. I have two children. Honestly, we left home without anything. So I only hope someone will stand by us - even if it's just a room for us to sleep in, nothing more than that.”
The conflict is also threatening to spread further.
Turkiye says NATO air defences have intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles that entered Turkish airspace during the conflict.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Tehran’s actions risk damaging relations between the neighbouring countries.
“Despite our sincere warnings, extremely wrong and provocative steps continue to be taken that will put Turkey’s friendship at risk. We must not engage in any scheme that will inflict deep wounds in the hearts and minds of our nation and cast a shadow over our thousand-year-old neighbourly and brotherly relations. Turkey’s position and stance are clear. Its extraordinary efforts to prevent further spread of the conflict and bloodshed are also evident. In the context of today's events, I reiterate once again that persistence in error and stubbornness must be avoided.”
Ten days into the conflict, the war is no longer confined to Iran and Israel.
It now stretches across much of the Middle East, affecting Gulf states, threatening global energy supplies and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
And despite claims of early military success, there are still few signs this war is close to ending.
