Washington, April 6 (NationPress) - On Monday, President Donald Trump dismissed inquiries regarding whether his actions in the ongoing Iran conflict could be classified as a war crime, responding briefly during a press interaction at the White House.

When asked directly, "Are you planning to commit a war crime in this conflict with Iran?" Trump retorted, "What else?"

This succinct reply occurred during a more extensive dialogue about the conflict, where Trump stood firm in his defense of the U.S. military efforts, reiterating his rationale for the war.

He asserted that the primary focus of the conflict is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. "They’re foolish, because the war is about one thing -- Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he emphasized.

Trump characterized the scale of U.S. military operations starkly. "We are obliterating that country. And I hate to do it, but we’re obliterating," he stated, cautioning that further escalation could occur if Iran does not comply.

He claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely diminished. "They can’t fight back. They have no capability… they have some missiles left. They have some drones left, but essentially, they have no capability," Trump noted.

Simultaneously, Trump hinted that the conflict could conclude swiftly under specific circumstances. "Well, it could end very quickly, the war, if they do what they have to do. They have to do certain things," he mentioned.

The President also defended U.S. actions by linking them to broader regional security issues, stating that without his earlier decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, "Israel would have been gone, extinguished."

Throughout the exchange, Trump was also questioned about the effects on civilians and the situation within Iran. He claimed that the Iranian populace desires the conflict to persist until change occurs. "The Iranian people, when they don’t hear bombs going off, they’re upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free," he asserted.

He further alleged that protests in Iran are met with lethal force, claiming demonstrators would be "immediately shot" if they took to the streets.

Trump also referenced casualty figures among protesters, stating, "As of this morning… 45,000 protesters have been killed," describing it as "pretty bad."

This exchange took place during a public event at the White House, where the President fielded multiple questions regarding the war and U.S. strategy in the region.

The dialogue highlights the increasing scrutiny surrounding the conduct of the conflict, particularly as the implications for civilians and the rules of engagement garner international attention.