US President Donald Trump on 16 May declared a 'total military victory' over Iran, asserting that American military operations had severely damaged Tehran's naval and air assets while degrading its missile production facilities. Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Anchorage, Alaska.

Trump's Claims on the Military Campaign

Speaking in sweeping terms, Trump said the United States had effectively dismantled key pillars of Iran's military infrastructure. 'We had a total military victory,' he told reporters, citing the destruction of naval and air assets and the degradation of missile production capacity.

He also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes — remained effectively under US control following operations in the region. 'They've done no business — literally, they've done no business in the last two and a half weeks,' Trump said, referring to Iranian-linked shipping activity through the strategic waterway.

Ceasefire: 'At the Request of Other Nations'

Trump acknowledged agreeing to a ceasefire despite personal reservations, framing it as a concession to allied pressure. 'We really did the cease-fire at the request of other nations. I wouldn't have really been in favour of it…' he said.

Notably, Trump cited Pakistan among the nations that had requested the ceasefire, though he did not elaborate on the exact nature of Islamabad's involvement. The remarks represent one of the more specific public attributions of diplomatic pressure in the episode.

Nuclear Weapons: 'Iran Will Never Have One'

Trump was unambiguous on the question of Iranian nuclear ambitions. 'I can say this with very, very strong conviction, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, not going to happen,' he said.

He added that Chinese President Xi Jinping shared Washington's position on this matter, citing recent conversations between the two leaders. 'He feels strongly they can't have a nuclear weapon,' Trump said, describing Xi's stance. This comes amid broader US-China engagement spanning artificial intelligence cooperation, trade, and denuclearisation.

Taiwan and Future Military Options

During the wide-ranging exchange, Trump indicated he was still weighing future military options against Iran if circumstances required. On Taiwan, he said Xi opposed any move toward Taiwanese independence and warned against confrontation, while Trump himself noted he had made 'no commitment either way' regarding future US policy on the island.

The remarks signal that while a ceasefire is in place, the White House views the Iran situation as unresolved — and diplomatic channels, particularly with Beijing, as central to what comes next.