Washington, March 26 (NationPress) President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Iran is "desperate for a deal" following numerous American military strikes that he claims have severely weakened Tehran's military strength.

During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump emphasized that operations under the banner of "Operation Epic Fury" have "decimated" Iran's military assets, including its naval, aerial, and missile capabilities.

Trump remarked, "They are desperate to strike a deal, not me," adding, "we’ve completely eliminated their Navy, their Air Force… and a significant portion of their missiles and launch systems."

The President noted that US forces had neutralized "nearly 90 percent" of missile launchers and targeted factories responsible for producing drones and missiles. He warned that Iran must now choose between diplomatic talks or enduring ongoing military pressure.

"They have an opportunity to negotiate… If they don’t, we represent their worst nightmare," he stated.

Vice President JD Vance mentioned that the military actions had greatly diminished Iran’s conventional forces, thus providing Washington with broader strategic choices.

"Iran’s conventional military is virtually annihilated… they lack a Navy," Vance explained, stressing that the aim is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the military operation as essential in addressing a persistent threat, asserting that Iran has been "killing Americans and attacking Americans globally" for many years.

"This is the weakest Iran has ever been," Rubio warned, noting that a nuclear-capable Iran would present "an intolerable risk for the world."

Special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that diplomatic negotiations are ongoing, with a 15-point framework for a potential peace agreement already shared through intermediaries.

"We have outlined a 15-point action plan that serves as the basis for a peace deal," Witkoff stated, revealing that discussions are being facilitated via Pakistan and have yielded "strong and positive responses."

Despite this, he mentioned that prior talks failed due to Iran's refusal to meet key US demands, such as halting uranium enrichment and dismantling nuclear facilities.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that the military campaign had achieved rapid success on the battlefield.

"Never in recorded history has a nation's military been so swiftly and effectively neutralized," he said, adding that over 150 naval vessels were destroyed and thousands of targets were hit.

Hegseth remarked that US aircraft are now freely operating over Iranian airspace, signaling the collapse of Iran’s air defenses.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that additional economic pressures had weakened Iran's financial system, claiming it "collapsed in December" due to US sanctions.

He mentioned that global oil markets remain stable and shipping activities in the Gulf are starting to recover.

Trump also criticized NATO allies for their lack of support in the military campaign, labeling the alliance a "paper tiger" and stating that the US has acted largely by itself.

The President insisted that the operation is ahead of its timeline, highlighting that what was initially expected to take "four to six weeks" is progressing more rapidly.

"We’re significantly ahead of schedule," he concluded.