President Says Iran’s Military ‘Decimated’ But Won’t End Campaign
President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday night that while Iran’s military has been “decimated” after nearly three weeks of relentless US-Israeli strikes, he is “still not declaring it over.”
The statement signals a significant escalation in the scope of Operation Epic Fury, which launched on February 28 with massive joint US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, government sites, and the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
“This is a paper tiger that we’re dealing with,” Trump said, while simultaneously demanding that seven nations join an international coalition to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.
CENTCOM’s Strategic Pivot: From Missiles to Manufacturing
In what military analysts are calling a major strategic shift, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has moved beyond neutralizing immediate missile and drone threats to targeting Iran’s broader defense industrial base.
Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander, stated on March 16 that US strikes have expanded from immediate threats to Iran’s “wider manufacturing apparatus.” This includes strikes on an IRGC missile command infrastructure site in Yazd Province that was used to build “light and heavyweight torpedoes,” as well as a likely drone facility in South Khorasan Province — one of the combined force’s easternmost strikes since the war began.
The shift is deliberate and systematic. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on March 13 that US and Israeli strikes have “functionally defeated” Iran’s ballistic missile production capacity by destroying defense companies and production lines across the country. According to Cooper, ballistic missile attacks from Iran have declined by roughly 90 percent since Operation Epic Fury began.
To date, CENTCOM reports having struck over 5,500 targets across Iran, destroyed more than 30 Iranian minelaying ships, struck over 90 military targets on Kharg Island alone, and targeted naval mine storage facilities and missile production plants nationwide.
“We will systematically dismantle Iran’s missile production capability for the future, and that’s absolutely in progress,” Cooper stated.
The Nowruz Deadline: Where Is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Perhaps the most consequential subplot of the war is the growing mystery surrounding Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was hastily appointed after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
Trump dropped a bombshell Sunday, claiming he had heard Mojtaba Khamenei “is not alive” — though he offered no evidence. Hegseth said separately that the new supreme leader was wounded in the strikes and is “likely disfigured.” Unverified reports suggest he may have been transferred to Moscow for medical treatment.
US intelligence assesses that the IRGC is now effectively “calling the shots” in Tehran, according to CBS News and Fox News reports.
The uncertainty is hurtling toward a hard deadline: Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls on Friday, March 20. Every year, Iran’s supreme leader delivers a traditional Nowruz message to the nation. If Mojtaba fails to appear, it would confirm to the Iranian public — and the world — that Tehran’s leadership is in catastrophic disarray.
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has seized on the moment, calling on Iranians to celebrate the fire dance festival Chaharshanbe Suri as a symbol of national solidarity. He even hinted he “might celebrate” Nowruz in Tehran this year — a loaded statement suggesting he may seek a political role in post-war Iran.
The Larijani and Soleimani Killings: Iran’s Leadership Under Siege
Adding to Iran’s leadership crisis, Israel confirmed overnight on March 17 that it killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, in an airstrike. Israeli officials had considered Larijani the de facto leader of Iran amid Mojtaba’s absence.
In a separate joint US-Israeli operation, over a dozen Basij officials were targeted across Iran, including Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed both deaths, calling them “people with a lot of blood on their hands.”
The killings represent the most devastating blow yet to Iran’s chain of command. With the original Supreme Leader dead, his successor missing or incapacitated, and now the de facto leader and top paramilitary commander eliminated, Iran’s power structure is fracturing in real time.
Iran’s Asymmetric Response: Drones, Missiles, and Hormuz
Despite the devastation, Iran has not gone quietly. The Islamic Republic continues launching drone and missile strikes against Israel and US-allied Gulf states. The most intense barrage yet targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad on March 17, with at least five drones launched from areas around the city.
A missile struck a civilian vehicle in Abu Dhabi, killing one person. Iran-allied militia claimed two strikes on a US target in Baghdad, though Iraq says both were intercepted. Meanwhile, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping, causing global oil prices to surge.
Reports indicate Iran is using Russian-produced and possibly modified Shahed drones to strike US bases and Gulf countries, raising questions about the depth of Russian involvement. The regime has also begun targeting Iranians with Starlink access and reducing VPN availability to control information flow domestically.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that weakening the Islamic Republic’s ability to repress domestic dissent is a core goal of the military intervention, alongside destroying nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Israel has employed new tactics using social media videos posted by Iranians to geolocate and strike Basij militia checkpoints.
Trump Delays China Visit, Demands Hormuz Coalition
The widening conflict is reshaping global diplomacy. Trump announced he wants to delay a planned visit to China because of the Middle East situation. He has demanded seven nations contribute warships and military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting growing concern about the global energy implications of the conflict.
In a controversial move, Washington reportedly decided on temporary flexibility regarding Russian oil supplies to prevent market shocks — a decision that drew sharp criticism from European allies, who argue Russian President Vladimir Putin stands to benefit financially from the arrangement.
Trump has also said he is sparing Iran’s oil infrastructure for now, despite having struck Kharg Island — which handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports. The president appears to be walking a tightrope between military escalation and global economic stability.
What Comes Next
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, the war is at an inflection point. The US military has systematically dismantled Iran’s missile capabilities, crippled its navy, and decapitated much of its leadership. But the conflict shows no signs of ending.
Iran’s asymmetric warfare tactics — proxy strikes, Hormuz blockade, and drone attacks — continue to cause real damage. The global economic fallout is mounting. And the looming Nowruz deadline could either reveal Iran’s total leadership collapse or trigger a wave of domestic unrest that reshapes the conflict entirely.
One thing is clear: Trump is not ready to declare victory. And Iran, whatever remains of its leadership, is not ready to surrender.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.