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By Jenna Sundel and Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump said that the war with Iran could be nearing an end, telling CBS News that U.S. and Israeli forces have effectively dismantled Iran’s military capabilities and warning Tehran against any further action.
“I think the war is very complete, pretty much,” Trump told the network's Weijia Jiang, who reported the president's remarks on X. Trump added that Iran has “no navy, no communications” and “no Air Force,” and that the United States is “very far” ahead of his initial estimate that the war could last four to five weeks.
Asked about Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump said he had “no message for him, none whatsoever,” but added that he has someone in mind to replace Khamenei, without elaborating.
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Trump also told Jiang that ships are currently moving through the Strait of Hormuz but that he is “thinking about taking it over." He warned Iran that it has exhausted its military options, saying, “They better not try anything cute or it’s going to be the end of that country.”
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Why the U.S. Is at War With Iran, According to Trump
U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iran commenced on February 28, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a speech announcing the attack, Trump said, "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime...its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.
“It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I'll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That is why, in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime's nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.”
Is the War in Iran Almost Over?
It is unclear when military action in Iran will end. Trump previously said operations are likely to last four to five weeks, but that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”
Bloomberg Government reporter Jonathan Tamari said on X that Trump told House Republicans, "it's going to be a short-term excursion," referring to Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that military action in Iran could last eight weeks.
How the Iran War Is Impacting Oil Prices
Oil prices surged Monday after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen to succeed his late father as Iran’s supreme leader. The war has cut off major supplies of oil and gas to world markets.
Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose to nearly $120 a barrel Monday, about 65 percent higher than when the war started, before returning to below $100 a barrel.
Iran’s attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have all but stopped tankers from using the shipping lane through which a fifth of the world’s oil is carried. Iranian drones and missiles have also targeted oil and gas infrastructure.
What Is Donald Trump's Approval Rating?
An NBC News poll released Sunday found that Trump’s job approval rating is at 44 percent. The poll also found that 54 percent of voters totally disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president. Forty-one percent of voters approve of Trump's handling of the conflict with Iran, while 54 percent disapprove.
The poll was conducted from February 27 to March 3 and surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationally. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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Update 3/9/26, 5:38 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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