"Would take 10 years to rebuild": Trump says US-Israel military operation on Iran "proceeding very well"
Washington DC, March 18
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the ongoing US-Israel military operations against Iran as "proceeding very well," warning that Tehran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and that it would take atleast a decade to rebuild whatever has been destroyed in the course of bombing across the region.
"The war is proceeding very well... We can't let them have a nuclear weapon... They would have used it very gladly... We did a good job... Every time you see somebody with no legs, no arms, a face that's been really so badly damaged, lives destroyed, 95% chance it came right out of Iran," Trump said.
Trump further said that it would take ten years to rebuild the damage that had been done to Iran. He added that he believes measures need to be made more permanent so that no other president has to face the same situation. "We have a country that was hotter than any country anywhere in the world... They could leave today, and it would take 10 years to rebuild the damage that's been done. But I think we have to make it a little bit more permanent so that no other President has to go through this," he said.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance reinforced the administration's stance, pointing to the threat from regional militias and terrorist groups. "There have been a lot of militia attacks against our base or our embassy in Iran... There are a lot of terrorists in that region of the world, and we've got to eliminate them when we find them," Vance said.
The comments come as US and Israeli forces continue targeted strikes against Iranian military infrastructure and missile sites.
Meanwhile, the United States carried out strikes using "multiple 5,000-pound (2267 kg) deep penetrator munitions" on Iran, targeting "hardened Iranian missile sites" along its coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post shared on X, U.S. Central Command wrote, "Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait."
— ANI
Reader Comments
While no one wants a nuclear Iran, the language about "permanent" measures and boasting about destruction is troubling. The human cost is immense. We've seen enough war in our own region. Focus should be on de-escalation and dialogue, not more bombing.
The US-Israel axis acting as world police again. India must maintain its strategic autonomy and not get drawn into taking sides. Our foreign policy should focus on protecting Indian interests and the safety of our diaspora in the Gulf.
The humanitarian angle is being completely ignored. "10 years to rebuild" means a generation of suffering for ordinary Iranians. This isn't a video game. The world needs responsible leadership, not brinkmanship.
Geopolitically, this creates a huge vacuum. China will be watching closely. India needs to be very smart in navigating this. Our Chabahar port project and relations with Iran are crucial for connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The statement about "95% chance" injuries come from Iran seems like a gross oversimplification to justify war. As a nation that values peace, India should advocate for restraint. War is never the answer, yaar.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.