Trump: US military 'hitting Iran hard' as oil reserves set for release

Donald Trump said Wednesday that US forces are striking Iran hard as the conflict continues, claiming the Iranian military has suffered major losses in recent days.

Speaking to reporters on his way to a campaign event, Trump said the U.S. campaign against Iran is ongoing and delivering significant blows. 

“Our military is hitting them hard,” the president said. Asked what conditions would bring the operation to an end, Trump replied: “More of the same, and then we’ll see where things stand.” He added that Iran has already lost much of its military capability, saying its navy and air force have been severely damaged, its radar systems are gone, and many leaders have disappeared. “We’re leaving things that we could wipe out within an hour and they wouldn’t be able to rebuild the country,” he said.

When asked about U.S. oil reserves amid rising energy prices, Trump said they would be released soon. Hours later, the United States Department of Energy announced that the United States will release 172 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve over the next four months in an effort to calm global markets. Oil prices have surged to above $100 per barrel since the war began, while production in several Middle Eastern countries has been disrupted due to the fighting and Iranian strikes.

Trump also claimed that around 60 Iranian ships have been sunk during the campaign. Asked whether mines in the Strait of Hormuz could threaten U.S. and allied forces, the president said: “We don’t think so.”

Addressing the role of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Trump said Washington is working to counter its influence. “We love Lebanon and the people of Lebanon, but we have to get rid of Hezbollah—they are a disaster,” he said.

The president also commented on reports of a suspected Iranian drone ship that may approach the U.S. West Coast, saying the matter is currently under investigation. U.S. officials have warned that the conflict could potentially reach American territory, and embassies and consulates in the United States and around the world are on heightened alert.

Trump also addressed concerns raised by intelligence agencies about possible Iranian “sleeper cells” inside the United States. “I have been briefed about the sleeper cells,” he said, adding that authorities are monitoring individuals who may have entered the country in recent years. Trump blamed immigration policies under Joe Biden, saying “a lot of people entered through the border because of Biden’s policy, and we are keeping an eye on them.”

Tensions with Spain also surfaced during the exchange with reporters. Trump sharply criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing his government of failing to cooperate with the United States. 

“No, they are not cooperating at all. They are very bad,” Trump said, adding that Washington could consider cutting trade ties with Spain. He also accused Madrid of being problematic within NATO, although he praised the Spanish public, saying: “The people in Spain are wonderful—the leadership, not so much.”

When asked about one of the most controversial incidents of the campaign—the bombing of a girls’ school on the first day of Operation “Epic Fury”—Trump said he was not sufficiently familiar with the investigation to comment. Critics of the war in the United States, including many Democrats and media organizations, have questioned the legality of launching the military operation against Iran without congressional approval. They have also demanded accountability for the school strike, which was reportedly carried out by American forces by mistake and killed around 170 schoolgirls.