Donald Trump said Iran is “no longer the bully of the Middle East,” claiming US military action has weakened Tehran’s regional influence.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative event in Florida on Friday, Trump described Iran’s role over the past decades as defined by “terror aggression” and “nuclear blackmail,” arguing that this posture is now collapsing.
“For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East, but they are not the bully any longer. They’re on the run,” he said.
Trump credited the ongoing US campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, with significantly degrading Iran’s capabilities, adding that Washington is “closer than ever” to reshaping the region.
“Tonight we’re closer than ever to a Middle East finally free from Iranian terror aggression and nuclear blackmail,” he said.
Strait of Hormuz remarks
The US president said Iran is seeking negotiations, claiming its leadership structure has been severely weakened, though he provided no evidence for the assertions.
He also warned that thousands of potential US targets remain inside Iran.
Turning to maritime tensions, Trump urged Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global النفط shipping route.
In a light moment, he joked about renaming it the “Strait of Trump,” quickly correcting himself.
“We’re negotiating now … but they have to open it up,” he said.
NATO criticism and allies
Trump criticized NATO for not joining the US operation, calling it a “tremendous mistake” and warning of future consequences for allies that did not participate.
“We didn’t need them, but they weren’t there if we did,” he said.
At the same time, he praised several regional partners — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey and Indonesia — for their support.
Regional outlook
Trump said the Middle East is on the verge of transformation and expressed optimism that more countries would join the Abraham Accords, which aim to normalize relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority states.
“The future of the region has never looked brighter,” he said.
