New Delhi (India) March 10:President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has targeted 5,000 locations in Iran since the conflict in the Middle East began last month. He stated that Iran's missile capabilities have been reduced to just 10%. Speaking at the Republican Members Issues Conference in Florida on Monday, Trump reported that the US military sank 46 advanced Iranian naval ships over a span of three and a half days. 

Trump Jokes on Sinking Top Iranian Warships

He recalled a conversation with a military official, asking why the ships were destroyed instead of being captured.
"Iran's drone and missile capability is being utterly demolished. The Navy is gone. It's all lying at the bottom of the ocean. 46 ships, can you believe it? In fact I got a little upset with our people. When I said, 'What quality of ship?'. They said, 'Excellent, Sir. 'Top-of-the-line'. I said, 'Why didn't we just capture the ships?' We could use it. Why did we sink them?'," Trump said.
"He said, 'It's more fun to sink them'," Trump added.

Stern Warning: Block Oil, Face 20x Fury

In his remarks, Trump also issued a warning that the US would escalate the conflict with Iran if the country interfered with oil shipments from the Middle East.
He said, "If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," on social media.
He added, "Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again - Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!”

Khamenei's Death Sparks Strait of Hormuz Tensions

The hostilities erupted on February 28 when American and Israeli forces launched joint strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This escalation has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil and liquefied natural gas transport, leaving tankers stranded for over a week and forcing producers to halt operations as storage facilities reach capacity.

Iran Fires Back at Israel and US Gulf Bases

In retaliation, Tehran has been launching numerous missile strikes against Israel and its Gulf neighbors—Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE—where American military bases are located. The conflict spread to Asia last Wednesday when the US sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, resulting in the deaths of around 80 people.
While Israel aims to dismantle Iran's clerical regime, the US is focused on neutralizing Iran's missile capabilities and nuclear program. Trump has suggested that the war could conclude with a compliant Iranian government in place.