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Trump says U.S. has knocked out many Iranian naval and air targets

AL-Monitor
Mar 3, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst — Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. military had been successful against many Iranian naval and air targets, saying "just about everything has been knocked out."

He made his comments in the Oval Office ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Trump, answering questions from reporters, said he ordered the attack against Iran because "I had a feeling" that Iran would attack the United States as negotiations over its nuclear program stalled.

He presented no evidence to support the view. Iran had been anticipating another round of talks with U.S. envoys after negotiations were held in Geneva last Thursday.

Trump said Iran was still lobbing missiles but predicted Tehran will eventually lose this capability due to a sustained assault against them.

"They've shot a lot of them, and we're knocking out a lot," he said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Andreas Rinke and Steve Holland;Editing by David Ljunggren)