The US President presents his own view of things in a speech.Image: keystone
The US President once again irritated people on Thursday night (Swiss time) with statements about the Iran war. Attacks by the Iranian regime immediately afterwards exposed the statements as wishful thinking.
03/12/2026, 06:1803/12/2026, 06:27
During a speech to supporters in the US state of Kentucky, Trump declared regarding the Iran war: “We won.” It was actually over in the first hour. He previously told the US news portal “Axios” in a telephone interview that the war could end “soon”. “There is practically nothing left that can be attacked,” “Axios” quoted him as saying. Trump claimed that whenever he wanted the war to end, it would end.
Already two days ago the US President brought an early end to the war into play – and justified this with their own military successes. “I think the war is almost over,” US broadcaster CBS News quoted him as saying after a telephone interview on Monday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards reacted sharply to Trump’s comments at the time. “We are the ones who decide on the end of the war,” said a statement distributed by the Tasnim news agency.
Trump speaks of victory – Iran attacks oil tankers
On Thursday night (Swiss time), the Iranian regime actually exposed Trump’s statements as wishful thinking by blowing up two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iraqi port authority confirmed to the US broadcaster CNNthat two ships carrying oil were attacked in Iraqi waters. 38 crew members were evacuated and one person died. The attack in Iraqi territorial waters represents a violation of the country’s sovereignty, the state news agency INA quoted a military spokesman as saying. The port administration then suspended operations at the country’s oil terminals until further notice.
The current developments on the war in the ticker:
Iran claimed responsibility for the attacks and said it had “blown up two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf this evening.” Shortly beforehand, the British shipping authority reported that three ships had been hit by bullets near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the BBC Since the beginning of the war, 15 ships in the strait have been the target of attacks.
The symbolism is hard to ignore in several ways. Shortly before the attacks, Donald Trump announced that he would release strategic oil reserves to counteract the rise in oil prices. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard may be militarily inferior to the USA and Israel, but if they cause the global oil supply to collapse with their attacks in the Strait of Hormuz or on the infrastructure of the Gulf states, this will also have drastic consequences for the USA.
More attacks on Gulf states
Iran attacked fuel tanks in Bahrain again that night. It was initially unclear whether the fuel depots affected were the airport’s kerosene depots on the outskirts of the capital Manama or another facility. Residents of the island nation in the Persian Gulf were urged to seek safety. People in neighborhoods near the airport should stay at home and keep windows closed, the Interior Ministry said.
Saudi Arabia intercepted over 20 drones flying towards the country’s oil fields. In Oman, fuel tanks in the port of Salalah were allegedly hit by Iranian drones. A video published by Arabic television channel Al Jazeera showed a large fireball rising above one of the tanks. The oil price for the global benchmark Brent crude promptly rose to over $100 per barrel.
Trump has stated several times in recent days that ships can safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He warned Iran of “unprecedented” consequences if the important supply route was blocked. The Revolutionary Guard then declared that any ship wanting to pass through the strait would have to obtain permission from Iran. The statements and the subsequent attacks on ships make it clear that the mullahs’ regime is by no means ready to surrender.
Israel also sees it differently
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indirectly contradicted Trump around the same time. Katz rejected hopes of a quick end to the war: “This operation will continue without any time limit as long as it is necessary until we have achieved all objectives and the battle is decided,” he said at a meeting with the army leadership at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to his office.
Israeli army spokesman Effie Defrin also stated that Israel’s military still has an extensive list of targets. Israel’s army is also prepared to continue its operations in Iran for as long as necessary.
Supplemented with material from the news agencies SDA and DPA.