Donald Trump Says “We Won” The Iran War As Conflict Enters Twelfth Day

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the war with Iran has already been decided in favor of the United States, telling supporters that American forces secured victory almost immediately after the conflict began.

Speaking during an event at a logistics facility in Hebron, Kentucky, Trump said U.S. military operations had effectively neutralized Iran’s ability to fight early in the campaign.

“Let me say, we’ve won,” Trump told the crowd. “You never like to say too early that you’ve won, but we won. In the first hour it was over, but we won.”

Despite his declaration of victory, Trump emphasized that the mission is not yet complete and that U.S. forces must continue operations to ensure the objectives of the campaign are fully achieved.

“We don’t want to leave early,” he said. “We’ve got to finish the job.”

Conflicting Signals About the War’s Timeline

Trump’s remarks come amid shifting messages from the administration about the scope and duration of the conflict.

Since the military campaign began, Trump has alternately described the operation as:

• progressing faster than expected
• potentially lasting several weeks
• already won but still ongoing
• more of a limited “excursion” than a full-scale war

The varying descriptions have contributed to uncertainty about how long the conflict might continue and what conditions would mark its official conclusion.

Public opinion in the United States also appears divided. Polls conducted since the fighting began suggest that Americans are split along partisan lines over the decision to launch military action against Iran, with several surveys showing opposition slightly outweighing support.

Massive Air Campaign Targets Iranian Infrastructure

The U.S. air campaign has now entered its twelfth day, with American and Israeli forces continuing to strike military and strategic sites across Iran.

According to U.S. military officials, advanced technologies—including artificial intelligence—have been used to identify and target key facilities.

Officials say more than 5,500 military targets have been struck since the conflict began, including missile systems, drone manufacturing sites, naval assets, and other infrastructure.

Trump told supporters that American forces destroyed 58 Iranian naval vessels and eliminated much of the country’s air power during the early phase of the campaign.

Heavy Fighting Reported in Tehran

Residents in Tehran reported hearing repeated airstrikes and anti-aircraft fire throughout Wednesday as fighting intensified around the capital.

Witnesses described large plumes of smoke rising over parts of the city and said the air carried the smell of burning fuel and explosives. Many spoke anonymously out of fear of government retaliation.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued operations targeting Iranian positions and allied militant groups such as Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.

The conflict has displaced more than 800,000 people in Lebanon, according to regional estimates.

Nuclear Program at the Center of the Conflict

Trump also addressed Iran’s nuclear capabilities during his remarks in Kentucky.

He argued that earlier U.S. and Israeli strikes had already destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but claimed the country later resumed activities that prompted the current military operation.

“We obliterated it,” Trump said, referring to previous attacks on Iran’s nuclear program. “They didn’t have nuclear potential anymore.”

However, he added that Iran had restarted elements of its program afterward.

“That’s why we’ve got to finish it,” Trump said. “We don’t want to go back every two years.”

Administration officials have repeatedly argued that Iran was only weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon when the latest strikes began, though the government has also maintained that earlier attacks had severely damaged Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Escalation Across the Region

At the same time Trump declared victory, Iran expanded its response to the U.S. and Israeli campaign.

Iranian forces reportedly fired on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and launched attacks toward Dubai International Airport, raising fears of broader disruption to global transportation and energy supplies.

Sirens and explosions were also reported in Jerusalem and northern Israel as Hezbollah launched rockets and drones toward Israeli territory.

The escalating attacks have increased concern about the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.

Energy Markets and Strategic Oil Reserve

Rising tensions in the Persian Gulf have also pushed global energy markets into uncertainty.

Trump said Wednesday that the United States may release oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to lower fuel prices.

Speaking to a Cincinnati television station, he said a limited release could stabilize markets.

“We’ll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down,” Trump said, adding that the reserve would later be refilled.

However, the president did not provide details about how much oil might be released or when such a move would occur.

International Reactions

The conflict has drawn sharp reactions at the United Nations, where competing narratives about the war were presented during a Security Council session.

Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, said Iran had expressed willingness to continue negotiations before the conflict began.

He argued that the military action by the United States and Israel escalated the situation rather than resolving it.

Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, also criticized the Security Council’s response, saying it failed to acknowledge what he described as the root causes of the crisis.

Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador Mike Waltz defended the American position, accusing Tehran of misleading the international community about its military actions.

Uncertain Path Forward

Despite Trump’s declaration that the United States has already won the war, the broader situation remains highly uncertain.

Iran’s retaliatory attacks have disrupted shipping lanes, affected global energy markets, and increased security concerns across the Middle East.

With neither side showing signs of backing down, the conflict appears likely to continue shaping regional stability and international politics in the weeks ahead.