Speaking about the current war in the Middle East, Trump said intelligence suggested Tehran had already positioned missiles and launch systems for a large-scale assault across the region.
“If we didn’t go in, they would have come in after us…Within a week, they were going to attack us 100 per cent,” Trump said.
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The president asserted that Iran had far greater missile capabilities than previously believed and was preparing attacks not only against US forces but also against allies in the Middle East, particularly Israel.
“They were ready. They had all these missiles far more than anyone thought and they were going to attack us,” Trump said.
“They were going to attack all of the Middle East and Israel.”
Trump defends strikes as pre-emptive move
Trump framed the US military campaign as a necessary step to neutralise Iranian missile infrastructure before it could be used in a regional assault.
According to the president, US forces have already destroyed a large share of Iran’s launch capabilities during the ongoing offensive.
“This was going to be a major attack,” he said. “They had all of those missile sites and all those launchers that we got rid of about 80 per cent of them right now.”
Trump added that Iran’s remaining capabilities had been significantly reduced after days of airstrikes.
“They have very few launchers left,” he said. “What our military has done is amazing.”
The comments come as US and Israeli forces continue striking Iranian military and infrastructure targets as part of the widening regional conflict.
Nuclear warning over Israel
Trump also argued that Iran’s nuclear ambitions made the threat more dangerous, claiming Tehran would have used nuclear weapons against Israel if it possessed them.
“If they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it on Israel,” he said.
The assertion echoes repeated claims from Washington and Tel Aviv that Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes posed an immediate strategic threat, a key justification cited by both governments for launching military operations.
Israeli leaders have similarly said the strikes were intended to halt Iran’s missile and nuclear development before it could reach a stage where facilities would be protected in deep underground sites.
Also read: ‘Try anything cute and it’s the end of that country’: Trump threatens Iran over Strait of Hormuz
War framed as nearing completion
Trump’s remarks also come amid his broader messaging that the conflict is progressing rapidly in favour of the United States and Israel.
In recent statements, he has suggested the campaign may be relatively short, describing it as a “short-term excursion” while still insisting the offensive would continue until Iran is decisively defeated.
“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump said earlier, reiterating that Washington is seeking what he called “ultimate victory.”
The conflict began after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure, including missile facilities and strategic installations. Iran has since retaliated with drone and missile attacks against Israel, US bases and Gulf targets, widening the regional crisis.
Strait of Hormuz tensions add to global risk
The war has also heightened fears around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, making it a critical chokepoint for international energy trade.
Iran has warned that shipping security in the area could deteriorate as the war continues, while the United States has moved to strengthen maritime protection.
Trump previously said the US Navy would escort oil tankers moving through the strait to ensure that global energy supplies are not disrupted by the conflict.
The waterway has already seen a sharp decline in shipping traffic since the war began, reflecting the risks posed by missile strikes, drone attacks and naval threats in the region.
