President Donald Trump warned Friday that the United States could intensify its military campaign against Iran, boasting of America\u2019s military strength and threatening further attacks that could devastate Tehran\u2019s remaining capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an early morning post on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. military has overwhelming power and signaled that additional strikes were imminent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time \u2013 Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today,\u201d the president wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them,\u201d he continued. \u201cWhat a great honor it is to do so!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), American forces have struck approximately 6,000 Iranian targets since the conflict began at the end of February. U.S. operations have also hit or sunk more than 90 Iranian vessels during the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump\u2019s remarks come as tensions escalate following threats from Iran\u2019s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed power after his father was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his first public statement since taking power, Khamenei vowed retaliation against American forces in the region. His message came amid reports that he had been severely injured during the strike that killed his father, with speculation circulating that he had been in a coma and had part of his leg amputated. Khamenei also reportedly lost his wife in the same attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement read by Iranian state media, Khamenei warned that Iran would escalate the conflict if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe Strait of Hormuz must remain closed. American bases in the Middle East must be closed,\u201d he said. \u201cIran\u2019s other military and regional capabilities will be activated if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Trump responded to the threat during an interview with Fox News commentator Brian Kilmeade, saying Iran\u2019s leadership has done \u201ca lot of talking\u201d but may soon be forced to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll have to see because we are decimating them,\u201d the president said. \u201cWe\u2019ve knocked out most of their missiles. We\u2019ve knocked out many of their drones. We knocked out a lot of the manufacturing areas where they manufacture the missiles and now the drones. We\u2019re hitting them harder than anybody\u2019s been hit since World War II.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The president also said he believes Iran\u2019s new supreme leader is still alive despite reports of severe injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think he probably is. I think he\u2019s damaged, but I think he\u2019s probably alive in some form, yeah,\u201d Trump told Kilmeade in an interview set to air Friday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior U.S. officials echoed Trump\u2019s assessment that Iran\u2019s leadership has been severely weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Friday that Khamenei \u201clacks legitimacy\u201d and suggested the new leader is in hiding following the strikes that killed his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIran’s leadership is in no better shape. Desperate and hiding, they’ve gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do. We know the new so-called not so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,\u201d Hegseth said at the Pentagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe put out a statement yesterday. A weak one, actually, but there was no voice. And there was no video. It was a written statement,\u201d Hegseth continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe called for unity, apparently killing tens of thousands of protesters is his kind of unity. Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hegseth also indicated that the United States was preparing to significantly expand its military operations Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cToday will be yet again the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe number of sorties, the number of bomber pulses, the highest yet, ramping up and only up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
U.S. officials say the sustained campaign has dramatically degraded Iran\u2019s military capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIran has no air defenses. Iran has no air force. Iran has no navy,\u201d Hegseth said earlier. \u201cTheir missiles, their missile launchers and drones being destroyed or shot out of the sky. Their missile volume is down 90%. Their one way attack drones yesterday, down 95%.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cAnd as the world is seeing, they are exercising sheer desperation in the Straits of Hormuz. It’s something we’re dealing with. We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it. We’re on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The strategic waterway has become a focal point of the conflict. About one-fifth of the world\u2019s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. Central Command said American forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait earlier this week as Iran attempted to disrupt shipping through the crucial route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n