Trump: Iran’s ‘Big-Scale Hitting’ Underway, Military ‘Beaten’

Trump Claims Iran Undergoing ‘Big-Scale Hitting,’ Military ‘Beaten’

Former President Donald Trump asserted on [Date of Interview – assume current or recent], that Iran is currently facing extensive military action, describing it as “big-scale hitting” that has significantly degraded its capabilities. Speaking about the ongoing conflict, Trump stated, “We’re hitting them very hard and the big scale heading goes now, they no longer have air protection. They no longer have any detection facilities at all left. And so they’re going to be in for a lot of hurt.” He characterized the Iranian regime as “bad people” responsible for significant loss of life, claiming, “These are people that killed, I guess it’s 35,000. It’s coming out, 35,000 over the last three weeks, PROTESTORS, 35,000 VIOLENTLY KILLED.”

Preemptive Action and Israeli Hand

Trump suggested that the current military actions may have been preemptive, potentially “forced Israel’s hand.” He explained his reasoning, stating, “WE WERE HAVING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THESE LUNATICS AND IT WAS MY OPINION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK FIRST. THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK IF WE DIDN’T DO IT, THEY WERE GOING TO ATTACK FIRST. I FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.” He elaborated that based on the trajectory of negotiations, he believed an Iranian attack was imminent and that the preemptive action was taken to prevent it. “And I didn’t want that to happen,” Trump added.

Degradation of Iranian Capabilities

The former President detailed the impact of the military operations, asserting that Iran’s offensive capabilities have been severely diminished. “Virtually everything they have has been knocked out now. Their missile count is going way down. Amazingly, they’re hitting countries that were, you know, let’s call them neutral, right?” he observed. He further claimed that Iran’s missile and detection facilities are being systematically destroyed, leaving them vulnerable. “We’re hitting all of their carriers, we’re hitting all of their missiles stock. You know, they built up all these missiles over the last few years. They had a lot of them. They’ve shot a lot of them and we’re knocking out a lot,” Trump stated.

Leadership Elimination and Surrender Prospects

Trump also highlighted the elimination of key Iranian leadership figures as part of the operation. “The leader of the PAC is gone. As you know, 49 people were taken out in the first hit and I guess there was another hit today on the new leadership, and it looks like that was pretty substantial also,” he said. He expressed optimism that these actions are creating internal pressure within Iran, leading to potential surrenders. “A lot of people are coming forward. A lot of the people you at least suspect want to quit. They want to have immunity. They’re asking for immunity and probably at some point they’ll be dropping, as you would say, laying down their guns,” Trump remarked.

Comparison to Past Operations and Military Strength

Drawing parallels to his previous actions, Trump referred to operations in Venezuela as “big” and highlighted the strength of the U.S. military. “Our military is the number one in the world by far and we are this is everything’s big in my book. Venezuela was big. This is big. The original hit, Midnight Hammer, was big. Everything you view is big,” he stated. He contrasted his approach to military interventions with that in Iraq, where he claimed, “very stupidly everybody was fired. The generals were fired. The military was fired.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining established command structures, stating, “We don’t believe in that.”

Worst-Case Scenario and Post-Conflict Governance

When questioned about the worst-case scenario in Iran, Trump acknowledged the possibility of a power vacuum or the installation of a similarly detrimental leadership. “I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don’t want that to happen. It would probably be the worst,” he mused. He indicated that while many leaders they targeted are now deceased, they are considering potential successors, possibly from within the existing structure. “It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate,” Trump suggested, noting a preference for more moderate figures over “radical lunatics.”

Criticism of European Allies and Trade Relations

Trump expressed disappointment with the level of support from some European allies regarding the conflict. He specifically criticized Spain for its stance on NATO contributions and base access, stating, “I told Scott to cut off all dealings with Spain.” He also voiced dissatisfaction with the United Kingdom’s handling of a lease issue. “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” he commented. Conversely, he praised Germany’s cooperation, noting, “They’re letting us land in certain areas, and that’s ━ we appreciate it.” He contrasted the current German leadership favorably with that of Angela Merkel, whom he criticized for immigration and energy policies.

Ammunition Stockpiles and the Ukraine War

Addressing concerns about ammunition, Trump asserted that the U.S. possesses ample supplies, including a significant amount of high-end weaponry. He criticized the Biden administration for giving away substantial amounts of ammunition to Ukraine for free, stating, “A lot of it was given away stupidly by Biden very stupidly for free.” He clarified that while European nations pay for ammunition they send to Ukraine, the U.S. provided significant quantities without direct compensation. “We have unlimited middle and upper ammunition which is really what we’re using in this war and we have really an unlimited supply,” Trump declared, adding that much of this ammunition is stored internationally, a practice he initiated during his first term.

Historical Context of Iranian Aggression

Trump reiterated his long-standing opposition to Iran’s actions on the global stage, referencing the 47-year period of alleged Iranian-sponsored terror. He specifically condemned Iran’s role in developing roadside bombs, which he attributed to the deaths and severe injuries of numerous individuals. “Ninety-five percent of the people lost their legs, arms, had their face wiped out, just wiped out. And that was all almost all 95 % comes from Iran,” Trump stated. He also mentioned the killing of Qasem Soleimani during his presidency as a critical action that prevented Iran from becoming “much stronger and smarter.” He described Iran as a “purveyor of terror all over the world for many, many years.”

Tariffs and Trade Power

In a separate discussion, Trump addressed trade relations and the use of tariffs. He claimed victory in a tariff dispute, stating, “We won on tariffs, actually.” He explained that a recent court decision affirmed the U.S.’s right to implement various forms of tariffs. “Tariffs have made our country very rich,” he asserted, emphasizing the need to protect domestic interests and penalize nations engaging in unfair monetary practices. He highlighted a specific legal power that allows the U.S. president to unilaterally stop all business with a country, a power he suggested could be used against Spain due to their perceived unfriendliness.

Looking Ahead

As military operations in Iran continue and diplomatic relations with allies remain under scrutiny, the geopolitical landscape is poised for further developments. The effectiveness of the “big-scale hitting” and its long-term impact on Iran’s leadership and regional stability will be closely watched. Additionally, the former President’s ongoing commentary on international trade and alliances suggests a continued focus on transactional relationships and the assertion of American economic interests on a global scale.

Source: Trump on Iran: 'Big-scale hitting goes now' (YouTube)