Trump: ‘Most Hormuz mine-laying vessels removed… Iran’s navy all but gone’

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

Trump said the U.S. military had removed most Iranian mine-laying vessels deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need to resume oil shipments.
Trump claimed Iran has lost its navy and air force, as well as its air defense equipment and radar, and suggested the possibility of additional military strikes, saying its leadership is gone.
Trump said Spain is not cooperating with the U.S. and behaved badly toward NATO, adding he could halt all trade with Spain, and said Hezbollah must be eliminated.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on the 11th (local time) claimed that the U.S. military has removed most of Iran’s mine-laying vessels deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the need to resume oil shipments.

Speaking to reporters en route from the White House in Washington, D.C., to Ohio, Trump said, “Overnight, we removed most of the (Strait of Hormuz) mine-laying vessels.” He claimed the number of vessels removed was 59 to 60.

However, some foreign media reports said U.S. Central Command removed 16 mine-laying vessels the previous day, raising the possibility that Trump may have mixed up the figures.

On Iran’s military capabilities, Trump said, “All their ships, their navy is almost gone.” Asked whether mines had been laid in the Strait of Hormuz, he replied, “I don’t think so.”

Asked whether oil companies should resume transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “They should,” adding, “I think they should use it (the Strait of Hormuz).”

Trump also said of Iran’s military, “They lost their navy, and they lost their air force. They have no air defense equipment at all. They have no radar,” adding, “Their leadership is gone, and we could make (Iran’s situation) much worse.”

He also mentioned the possibility of additional military strikes. “We’ve left certain targets that are to be removed, and they can be removed as soon as this afternoon,” Trump said. “In fact, within an hour, they will literally never be able to rebuild the country again,” he claimed.

Asked whether he could declare victory in the war while Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains in place, he said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Asked whether the U.S. could withdraw its forces even if Iran does not hand over its nuclear program, he said, “I won’t answer.” He added, “We hit them harder than any country in history, and it’s not over yet.”

Asked whether the U.S. military could bear responsibility for the mistaken bombing of an Iranian elementary school that left at least 175 dead early in the conflict, he replied, “I don’t know.”

Trump also continued his criticism of Spain, which opposed the Iran military operation. “Spain is not cooperating with the United States,” he said. He added, “They behaved badly toward NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization),” and “We could stop all trade with Spain.”

Regarding claims that civilians are being harmed as Israel attacks Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group, Trump said, “We love Lebanon and the Lebanese people. But we have to eliminate Hezbollah.”

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com