Trump Calls Iran Campaign a ‘Minor Military Operation,’ Not a War
Trump says the U.S. confrontation with Iran is “not a war” but a “minor military operation,” citing no American deaths in months as he acknowledged new limited strikes.
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Speaking to reporters after landing in West Palm Beach, Florida, late Friday, the U.S. president rejected the idea that Washington is at war with Tehran, pointing to the absence of American casualties.
“Iran is not a war. It’s a minor military operation,” Trump said.
‘We Haven’t Lost Anybody’
Trump compared the confrontation with the war in Ukraine to make his case. “It’s not a war. Can’t be a war when for five months nobody is hurt, killed, or anything else,” he said. “You know, in Russia, Ukraine, they lose 25,000 people a month. We haven’t lost anybody in seven months. So I don’t think that’s a war.”
“You look at World War I, that’s a war. World War II, that’s a war. You look at Russia, Ukraine, that’s a war. We’re not fighting,” he added.
Strikes Near Qeshm Island
Asked about reports of strikes near Iran’s Qeshm Island on Friday, Trump did not deny U.S. involvement. “We do minor strikes, but they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,” he said.
Iranian media had reported explosions near the town of Suza on Qeshm, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. strikes earlier in the week reportedly hit Qeshm and Hengam islands and the area around Bandar Abbas.
The remarks come as the administration weighs its next steps on Iran. Trump has been weighing whether to resume the war as his national security team meets.
Hormuz and Talks
Trump also described the U.S. role around the waterway in unusual terms. “What we are is maybe an occupier. Could be an occupier, because, you know, we control the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
An Iranian army spokesman has reportedly said the strait will remain closed until Washington accepts seven conditions set by Tehran.
Trump insisted diplomacy remains open. “We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly,” he said. “So we’ll see if they make a deal.”
Separately, the U.S. is offering up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear program, while Iran has reportedly distributed iodine tablets near its nuclear facilities.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
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