President Donald Trump doubled down Friday on his claim that Iran has been severely weakened by recent military action, insisting that Tehran has emerged from the conflict in a dramatically diminished state and will receive no American funds under the newly signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

In two posts published on Truth Social, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism of his administration’s handling of the war with Iran, arguing that U.S. military operations devastated the country’s military capabilities and fundamentally altered the balance of power in the region.

“The War has diminished Iran!” Trump wrote. “It doesn’t, any longer, have an Air Force, a Navy, Antiaircraft Equipment, Radar, or practically anything else, and yet the Dumocrats say that Iran is better off now than it was four months ago.

“Can you imagine getting away with that??? How stupid can some people be???”

Trump’s comments came just days after Washington and Tehran reached a framework agreement intended to halt months of fighting and restore access through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors and a key route for global oil shipments.

However, reports emerged Friday evening that Iran had once again shut down the strait, raising fresh questions about the future of the agreement.

The president has repeatedly maintained that the military campaign accomplished its primary objectives, significantly degrading Iran’s military infrastructure and compelling the regime to engage in negotiations.

In a separate Truth Social message, Trump rejected the notion that the United States had entered talks from a position of weakness or urgency.

“We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did,” Trump wrote. “They are FINISHED! We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!”

Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, both sides now have a 60-day window to negotiate a broader and more permanent agreement.

Administration officials have said the framework is designed both to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and to address concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities, although the final terms of any long-term agreement remain under negotiation.

The accord follows a months-long conflict that began in late February after Trump authorized military strikes against Iran.

During the war, American and allied forces targeted Iranian military installations, missile infrastructure, and nuclear-related facilities, while Iran responded with attacks across multiple locations in the region.

Supporters of the administration contend that the campaign inflicted substantial damage on Iran’s military network and strengthened Washington’s hand at the negotiating table.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned whether the conflict achieved lasting strategic benefits, arguing that diplomacy might have produced similar outcomes without the costs and risks associated with military action.

Trump has consistently rejected that argument, insisting that Iran is in a far weaker position today than it was before the fighting erupted.

Administration officials have also highlighted declining oil prices following the reopening of key shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, arguing that lower energy costs could provide broader economic benefits for consumers in the months ahead.

{Matzav.com}