Key facts
- President Donald Trump stated that U.S. strikes have significantly diminished Iran's military capabilities.
- Trump claimed Iran's military had 159 ships sunk and that its air force, radars, and anti-aircraft systems are gone.
- He asserted that Iran's weapon-making capability is largely gone, estimating an 84% reduction.
- Trump stated that Iran has been brought 'back to the Stone Ages to a large extent' within four months.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's rhetoric with a post stating 'Back to the Stone Age.'
President Donald Trump asserted that recent U.S. strikes have severely weakened Iran's military power, stating the country has been largely returned to a primitive state. He told Newsmax that Iran's naval fleet has been decimated, with 159 ships now "under the sea," and that its air force, radars, and anti-aircraft systems are gone.
Trump further claimed that Iran's weapon-making capability has been reduced by approximately 84 percent, stating, "In four months we’ve brought them back to the Stone Ages to a large extent." He acknowledged Iran still possesses some missile capability but characterized it as limited.
Trump also reiterated his stance that Iran was the "bully of the Middle East" and that it would not be able to bully him. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment on X, posting, "Back to the Stone Age."
The phrase "bombing back to the Stone Age" typically implies carpet bombing and the destruction of modern infrastructure. Trump had previously made a similar threat during a prime-time address, suggesting the conflict could be resolved within two to three weeks.
The current conflict began on February 28 with attacks by the U.S. and Israel. Iran retaliated by targeting Israel and Gulf countries. Reports indicate over 2,000 Iranians have been killed, with thousands of civilian sites, including hospitals and schools, reportedly attacked by Israel and the U.S.
Janina Dill, a global security professor at the University of Oxford, commented that deliberately targeting civilian structures to achieve a "stone age" state would be illegal under international humanitarian law, as it would constitute directing attacks against civilian objects.