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US President Donald Trump has said that the military conflict with Iran will end within two to three weeks, while asserting that American forces have already achieved significant military gains. The remarks, made in recent interviews with radio host Hugh Hewitt and Newsmax television, were reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Trump told Hewitt that the conflict would conclude "probably another two weeks, two weeks, maybe three weeks," adding that "time is not of the essence for us." He expressed confidence that Washington would either negotiate a favorable deal with Tehran or prevail militarily, saying, "One way or the other, we win."
Coverage comparison
The two reports from TASS, dated April 30 and May 5, present consistent messaging from the US President, though they emphasize different aspects of his statements. The earlier report focuses on Trump's claim of having already inflicted a military defeat on Iran, while the later interview expands on his timeline expectations and includes specific details about Iranian naval losses.
Both reports rely solely on Trump's own statements as relayed through TASS, with no independent verification of the military claims. The reports do not include reactions from Iranian officials or other international sources.
Key claims
- Conflict duration: Trump said the conflict with Iran would last "another two weeks, two weeks, maybe three weeks" in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, as reported by TASS.
- Deal or victory: The President stated that Washington would either make a deal with Tehran or defeat it militarily, asserting "We've already won that."
- Iranian naval losses: Trump claimed that Iran had 159 ships, and now "they have none. They're all at the bottom of the sea," adding that eight more were taken out on the day of the interview. These specific figures have not been independently confirmed.
- Military defeat claim: In the April 30 interview with Newsmax, Trump said the US had already "destroyed" the Iranian Navy, air force, radar equipment, and leadership, while adding that he wanted to "win by a bigger margin."
- NATO criticism: Trump criticized NATO for not assisting in the military operation, saying, "We were not helped by NATO at all. Other countries should have done it."
Perspectives
The claims presented in these reports reflect the viewpoint of the US President and have been transmitted by a Russian state news agency. Independent verification of the military assertions—such as the destruction of the Iranian Navy or specific ship counts—is not available in these reports. The timeline of two to three weeks is a projection, not a confirmed plan, and no information is provided on potential diplomatic efforts.
No statements from Iranian authorities or other governments are included in the reports, leaving the broader context of the conflict—including its causes and international reactions—unaddressed in this coverage.