United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Mar 4) declared that the U.S. military’s performance in its expanding conflict with Iran was extraordinarily successful, saying he would rate it about “15 out of 10”. His remarks came as the war entered its fifth day, with a U.S. submarine sinking an Iranian warship off Sri Lankan waters and continued strikes across the Middle East.
Speaking at the White House to a group of technology leaders, Trump said, “We’re doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15,” emphasising that Washington was in a “very strong position”. He added that Iran’s leadership had been “rapidly going” and that its ballistic missile arsenal was being “wiped out rapidly”.
Trump reiterated his justification for the U.S. and Israeli campaign, arguing that Iran was on the path to acquiring a nuclear weapon and that its leadership posed a long‑standing threat. “When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen,” he said, underscoring his stance that the military offensive was necessary to protect U.S. interests and allies.
The conflict’s recent expansion included the reported sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka, in what officials described as the first such action since World War II, with dozens of crew members killed or missing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was also considering America’s role in Iran once the U.S.‑Israeli operation concludes, while denying reports that the U.S. had agreed to arm Kurdish militia in Iran. She reiterated that forces expected to achieve “complete and total dominance” over Iranian airspace in the coming hours.
Trump’s administration has faced criticism over mixed messaging about the conflict’s justification, especially given his earlier campaign pledge to avoid new wars. Meanwhile, key military leaders have described U.S. operations as degrading Iran’s ability to strike, even as the conflict continues to produce uncertainty in the region.
