President Donald Trump has stated the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is 'very far ahead of schedule' and 'very complete, pretty much.'

Speaking in a phone interview with CBS News from his Doral, Florida, golf club, Trump described Iran's military as effectively neutralized. 'Iran has no navy, no communications, they've got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter,' he said. 'If you look, they have nothing left. There's nothing left in a military sense.' The U.S. military has conducted more than 3,000 targeted strikes in the conflict's first week under Operation Epic Fury, surpassing Trump's earlier estimate of a month to destroy Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

The war, now in its second week, began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran following failed nuclear negotiations. Trump had issued ultimatums for Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, end support for proxies, and halt enrichment, but talks mediated by Oman collapsed after the 60-day deadline expired in June 2025 and resumed fruitlessly into 2026. In his declaration speech, Trump cited Iran's history of attacks on U.S. forces, support for Hamas's October 7 assault on Israel, and pursuit of nuclear weapons as justifications, vowing to obliterate its missile industry, navy, and proxies.

Trump hinted the operation could conclude soon, calling it a 'short-term excursion' during a meeting with House Republicans in Miami, though he warned of escalation if Iran disrupts oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has attacked merchant vessels there, halting 20% of global oil flows, prompting Trump to say the U.S. is 'thinking about taking it over' and threatening, 'If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran.' Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel on Monday before dipping after his comments, with stocks rallying on hopes of a quick resolution.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases, Gulf states, and Israel overnight into Tuesday. Its Revolutionary Guards targeted a U.S. base in Iraq and vowed to block Middle East oil exports. Iranian officials claim over 1,300 civilian deaths, while Israel reports striking central Iran and Beirut. Seven U.S. service members have died, including Sgt. Benjamin Pennington.

Amid the fighting, Iran's clerics appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the new supreme leader. Trump expressed disappointment, preferring an 'internal' Iranian leader. France proposed a defensive mission to reopen the Strait, while NATO downed an Iranian missile over Turkey.