Trump Claims Iran’s Navy and Air Force ‘Knocked Out’ as Germany Offers Logistical Support
US President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that American military operations, conducted jointly with Israel, have effectively eliminated Iran’s naval and air capabilities. Speaking during a White House news conference alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump asserted that the campaign against Iran is progressing strongly.
“They have no navy; it’s been knocked out. They have no air force; it’s been knocked out. They have no air detection – that’s been knocked out,” Trump stated, emphasizing the destruction of Iran’s radar systems and broader military infrastructure.
The remarks came on the fourth day of sustained US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Tehran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching retaliatory missile and drone assaults on US and allied positions throughout the Gulf region. Trump explained that he authorized the initial US involvement on Saturday, citing a strong intuition that Iran planned a pre-emptive attack amid stalled nuclear negotiations. He rejected suggestions that Israel had pressured the US into action, instead noting that Washington may have influenced Israel’s timing.
This rationale diverged from comments made a day earlier by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated the strikes occurred because the administration anticipated an imminent Israeli bombing followed by Iranian reprisals against American interests in the area.
Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, DC, highlighted the domestic implications of Trump’s statements, noting that the US Constitution requires a demonstrated threat to national security for presidential war powers without congressional approval. No such evidence has been publicly presented, she observed.
During the meeting, Trump praised Germany’s role, describing it as “helping out” by granting US forces access to certain bases for operations. He contrasted this cooperation with the positions of the United Kingdom and Spain. “They’re letting us land in certain areas, and we appreciate it, and they’re just making it comfortable. We’re not asking them to put boots on the ground,” Trump said.
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Chancellor Merz expressed backing for the US-Israeli efforts against Iran but stressed the urgency of concluding the conflict due to its economic fallout, particularly rising oil and gas prices. “This is, of course, damaging our economies… So, that’s the reason why we all hope that this war will come to an end as soon as possible,” Merz remarked. He aligned with Trump on the goal of removing Iran’s current regime, adding that discussions would focus on post-operation arrangements: “We are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Iran away, and we will talk about the day after.”
The ongoing war remains politically challenging for Merz in Germany, where support for the operation has drawn criticism over its legal and explanatory basis under international law. Trump has projected the campaign could extend beyond initial estimates, with preparations for naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz if needed to secure maritime trade.