President Donald Trump declared the U.S.-Iran war “very complete, pretty much” in a phone interview with CBS News on Monday, signaling that Operation Epic Fury — now in its 10th day — could be winding down far sooner than the one-month timeline originally projected.
Speaking from his Doral, Florida golf club, the president painted a picture of total military dominance over Iran’s armed forces. “They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter. Their drones are being blown up all over the place, including their manufacturing of drones,” Trump told CBS News.
3,000+ Targets Destroyed in First Week
The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces have struck more than 3,000 Iranian targets since Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28. The campaign has systematically dismantled Iran’s military infrastructure — from air defense systems and missile launch sites to naval bases and drone manufacturing facilities.
“If you look, they have nothing left. There’s nothing left in a military sense,” Trump stated bluntly.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the operation has cost approximately $3.7 billion in its first 100 hours alone — roughly $900 million per day — driven primarily by the massive expenditure of precision-guided munitions. According to CSIS analysts, the U.S. entered the conflict with a $28.8 billion deficit in munitions stockpiles, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.
New Supreme Leader Named: Mojtaba Khamenei Takes Power
In a significant political development, Iran announced late Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei — the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the early days of the conflict — has been named the country’s new Supreme Leader. The appointment of the younger Khamenei signals Iran’s clerical establishment is attempting to maintain continuity even as the country’s military infrastructure crumbles.
Trump dismissed the new Iranian leader entirely. “I have no message for him. None, whatsoever,” the president said, adding that he has “someone else in mind” to lead the country — a comment that will likely fuel speculation about U.S. regime change objectives.
USS Charlotte Sinks Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka
The conflict has extended well beyond the Middle East. Earlier this week, the U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Charlotte torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the sinking, and the Pentagon released black-and-white footage of a Mark 48 heavyweight torpedo striking the vessel. The IRIS Dena had been returning from the International Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise hosted by India when it was intercepted. Sri Lankan authorities reported approximately 180 crew members were believed to be aboard, with search and rescue operations recovering survivors.
The incident has drawn sharp international criticism, with Iran’s foreign minister writing on X: “Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning. Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
Strait of Hormuz: Trump Considers “Taking It Over”
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — through which approximately 20% of the global oil supply flows — has effectively ground to a halt since the conflict began. Trump threatened Iran directly over the strategic waterway.
“They’ve shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country,” the president warned. “If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran and you’d never hear the name again.”
Trump claimed the strait is currently open and that ships have been entering it, but said he is “thinking about taking it over” — a statement that could have massive implications for global energy markets and international maritime law.
Oil Prices Plunge on Trump’s “Complete” Declaration
Markets reacted dramatically to the CBS News interview. The U.S. benchmark price for crude oil dropped approximately 10% — nearly $10 per barrel — in the roughly two hours following the interview. Oil prices, which had surged by double-digit margins earlier Monday, are now down slightly since trading opened for the week Sunday evening. Major stock indices also closed in positive territory after spending most of the day in the red.
Seven Americans Killed So Far
The human cost of Operation Epic Fury continues to mount. Seven American service members have now been killed in combat. Vice President JD Vance attended a dignified transfer Monday for the remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, who died of injuries suffered in a March 1 attack at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia — both U.S. allies hosting American military installations — have absorbed retaliatory Iranian strikes, underscoring that the conflict’s consequences extend to America’s Gulf partners.
What Happens Next
Despite Trump’s declaration that the war is “very complete,” the Pentagon appeared to strike a different tone. The Department of Defense posted on X Monday afternoon: “We have Only Just Begun to Fight” and “no mercy” — suggesting military operations are far from over.
Asked whether the war could wrap up soon, Trump was characteristically direct: “Wrapping up is all in my mind, nobody else’s.”
The disconnect between the president’s optimistic assessment and the Pentagon’s continued aggressive posture raises questions about what “very complete” actually means — and whether the most dangerous phase of the conflict may still lie ahead.
Sources: CBS News, The Guardian, BBC News, Al Jazeera, CSIS, Reuters, USA Today