U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is seeking talks with Iran, but claimed there is “nobody to talk to” following weeks of U.S.-Israeli strikes that he said had decimated the country’s leadership.
Speaking during a trophy presentation at the White House, Trump said, “We’re having a hard time. We want to talk to them, and there’s nobody to talk to. We have nobody to talk to. And you know what—we like it that way.”
He claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened, stating that its navy, air force, air defense systems and radar infrastructure had been destroyed, along with much of its leadership.
“Now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore,” he added.
Despite the remarks, Trump reiterated that Washington’s objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“We’re not going to let them have nuclear weapons, because if they had them, they’d use them,” he said, repeating a justification for the war that critics argue is not supported by available evidence.
Trump also noted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in the White House Situation Room during the event, choosing to remain there rather than attend.
The president further claimed major battlefield gains, stating that key Iranian naval assets had been destroyed within days.
“They had a navy two weeks ago. They have no navy anymore. It’s all at the bottom of the sea—58 ships knocked down in two days,” he said.
Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28. The attacks have reportedly resulted in significant casualties, including senior Iranian leaders, while Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S.-linked assets across the region.