Trump: U.S. "Pounding the Hell" Out of Iran; Calls on Allies to Escort Ships

By John DiMauro,

247Trumpnews.com

March 16th

WASHINGTON — In a high-stakes update from the East Room of the White House today, President Trump delivered a blistering yet upbeat assessment of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The President revealed that U.S. and allied forces are currently "pounding the hell" out of strategic targets, specifically focusing on clearing the Strait of Hormuz.

While Trump noted that the military has the capability to declare the war over "very soon" given the level of destruction, he stopped short of doing so, emphasizing that key objectives remain before a total cessation of hostilities can be announced.

A major focus of the President's address was the immediate need for a global naval coalition to secure the world's most vital energy artery. Trump called on nations that are the primary beneficiaries of Middle East oil—specifically naming China, Japan, and South Korea—to deploy their own warships to escort tankers. "I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory," Trump said, noting that while the U.S. is "helping a lot," it will no longer shoulder the entire burden of policing a waterway that other nations rely on for up to 90% of their energy.

Turning his sights on European allies, Trump delivered a mixed review of international cooperation. He gave French President Emmanuel Macron a "level 8 score" on a scale of 0 to 10, signaling a strong working relationship with Paris, but issued a stern warning to other NATO members.

Trump insisted that NATO countries must "kick in" more resources to the maritime effort, warning that a failure to assist would be "very bad for the future of NATO." He expressed frustration at the lack of "enthusiasm" from some partners, promising that the U.S. "will remember" who stood by them during the blockade.

On the ground in Iran, the President claimed that the "first and second tier" of the Iranian leadership has been virtually wiped out by precision strikes. This decapitation of the regime has created a chaotic vacuum in Tehran; Trump remarked that the U.S. "doesn't really know who to make a deal with" because the remaining officials are in total disarray.

Despite reports that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may have been wounded or killed in recent strikes on Tehran, Trump remained focused on the fact that the current leadership is "dead militarily" and has no functional air force or navy left to mount a significant defense.

Despite the intensity of the "excursion," Trump maintained that the U.S. is being surgical to avoid long-term trauma to the region's infrastructure. He highlighted that while he could "knock out the electric plants in one hour," he has chosen to spare certain industrial assets to avoid a years-long rebuilding process.

The President concluded that while the war is "very complete, pretty much," the U.S. will continue to maintain pressure until a definitive and favorable deal is reached, ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for global trade permanently.