President Donald Trump declared Monday that the United States is on the verge of achieving what he called a “total victory” over Iran, predicting that the outcome would become clear within the next two weeks and insisting that Tehran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump made the remarks during a telephone rally held in support of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), where he highlighted the administration’s stance toward Iran and praised Graham for standing with him on the issue.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and it’s as simple as that. They cannot have, the destruction is so powerful, they cannot have a nuclear weapon. And Lindsey has been fighting with me all the way, all the way for that,” Trump said.
“We’ve been a very tough team, and I think we are winning that battle, but you’re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory. It’ll be a total victory. It’ll happen very soon. And oil prices will come tumbling down,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that the recent confrontation between Israel and Iran would not reignite.
During an exchange with Sky News U.S. correspondent James Matthews, the president was asked, “If Netanyahu goes back to war with Iran, will you be with him?”
The President replied, “I don’t think it’ll happen. It’s all working out very well. Iran is doing what they have to do; I don’t think that’s going to happen, ok?”
Trump’s comments followed a tense overnight period in which Iran violated the ceasefire by launching missiles toward northern Israel, prompting an Israeli military response against targets inside Iran.
In response to the renewed violence, Trump publicly demanded an immediate halt to hostilities.
“Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting,'” Trump wrote on social media.
A senior Israeli official later indicated that Jerusalem had agreed to suspend further retaliatory attacks against Iran following a request from Trump. According to the official, Israeli leaders believe the latest chapter of the conflict with Iran has effectively come to an end.
At the same time, the official stressed that Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon would continue unabated in the days ahead.
He further emphasized that Israel would continue striking Beirut’s Dahieh district if attacks against Israeli communities and civilians persist.
Trump also revealed details of a recent conversation with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, telling Channel 12 News that he urged caution regarding any additional military escalation with Iran.
According to Trump, he warned Netanyahu that a broader regional war could eventually leave Israel confronting Iran without direct American support. The president said he advised the Israeli leader to carefully weigh future military decisions, cautioning that further escalation could result in Israel having to face Tehran largely on its own.