05/05/2026
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05/05/2026
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WASHINGTON, May 5: U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has privately acknowledged it cannot withstand U.S. military power, describing the current confrontation as a limited “skirmish” while dismissing Tehran’s capabilities.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “We’re in a little military skirmish. I call it a skirmish because Iran has no chance. They never did. They know it.” He added that Iranian officials convey a different message in private than in public statements.
“They express it to me when I talk to them, then they get on television, they say how well they’re doing,” Trump said.
The president went on to claim that Iran’s military infrastructure has been largely neutralized, asserting that the country lacks a functional navy, air force, and air defense systems. “They have no navy, no air force, no anti-aircraft capability, totally wiped out, no radar. They have no leaders. The leaders are wiped out,” he said, without providing evidence for the claims.
Asked about the conditions under which Iran might violate a ceasefire, Trump declined to specify, saying, “You’ll find out, because I’ll let you know. They know what to do—and more importantly, what not to do.”
Trump also appeared to downplay Iran’s remaining maritime capabilities, referring to what he described as “little boats” used by Iranian forces.
Iranian officials have not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side remains limited amid ongoing tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump further said that fear of violent reprisals is deterring Iranians from staging mass protests, arguing that unarmed demonstrators would be unable to withstand armed crackdowns.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump described hypothetical scenarios in which large crowds could be dispersed by gunfire, suggesting that the threat of violence prevents sustained demonstrations.
“I don’t want to say that, but yeah. People say, ‘Why aren’t they protesting?’ They want to protest, but they don’t have any guns,” Trump said. “You could have 200,000 people protesting, and have five or six people with guns, and when they start shooting… very few people would be able to stand there and do it.”
Trump also referenced past unrest in Iran, including the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, claiming that large gatherings quickly dispersed after individuals were shot. He further alluded to reports of mass casualties during previous demonstrations, though he did not provide evidence for specific figures cited.
“They had 200,000 women protesting… and then all of a sudden, a woman dropped dead with a bullet… and then there was panic, and they ran,” he said.
“I don’t want that to happen. We don’t need that,” Trump added, while reiterating his view that many Iranians “want to protest so badly, but they don’t have weapons.”
Iranian authorities have previously been accused by rights groups of using force against protesters, while Tehran has consistently rejected such allegations or framed its actions as necessary to maintain public order.
