President Donald Trump said he was briefly frustrated after learning that U.S. forces sank dozens of Iranian vessels instead of capturing them during ongoing military operations involving Iran. The comments came as the United States continues a large-scale campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
Trump Questions Why Iranian Ships Were Sunk
During remarks at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Donald Trump described a conversation he said he had with military officials about the fate of Iranian naval ships.
Trump said he initially wondered why the vessels were destroyed rather than seized.
“I got a little upset with our people,” Trump told the audience. “I said, ‘What quality of ship?’ They said, ‘Excellent, sir. Top of the line.’ I said, ‘Why didn’t we just capture the ship? We could’ve used it. Why did we sink them?’”
According to Trump, military leaders told him it was safer to destroy the ships instead of attempting to capture them.
“They said, ‘It’s more fun to sink them,’” Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience. “They like sinking them better. They say it’s safer to sink them.”
Dozens of Iranian Ships Reportedly Destroyed
Trump claimed that U.S. forces had destroyed or sunk 46 Iranian ships during the conflict.
The president said the destruction occurred over roughly three and a half days of operations.
Military activity is taking place as part of Operation Epic Fury, a campaign aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
Operation Targets Iranian Military Infrastructure
According to the United States Central Command, the operation began on February 28 and has included strikes on thousands of targets across Iran.
CENTCOM officials say the campaign focuses on locations believed to pose imminent threats.
The command reported that:
- More than 50 Iranian ships were damaged or destroyed during the first 10 days of fighting.
- Thousands of military targets have been struck across Iran.
- Operations aim to dismantle Iran’s military infrastructure and security networks.
Trump Says Iranian Leadership Has Been Weakened
Trump also argued that the military campaign has significantly weakened Iran’s leadership structure.
“Their terrorist leaders are gone or counting down the minutes until they will be gone,” Trump said.
He suggested that several Iranian leaders had already been removed during the conflict and that replacements were also under pressure.
Pentagon Says Conflict Is Still in Early Stages
While Trump indicated the war could be nearing an end, senior military officials have signaled that operations are still developing.
Pete Hegseth told 60 Minutes that the military campaign remains in its early phases.
Speaking to journalist Major Garrett, Hegseth said the ongoing operation is only beginning and could expand further.
Officials say tens of thousands of U.S. troops are involved in operations targeting Iranian military assets.
Conflict Began With Coordinated Strikes
The war began when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iranian targets in late February.
The strikes triggered a broader regional conflict that has resulted in casualties on multiple sides and heightened concerns about stability across the Middle East.
Military analysts say the conflict could reshape regional security depending on how long the fighting continues.
