US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that American military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s defence capabilities, but said Tehran still retains a portion of its missile arsenal and continues to pose a threat.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said US strikes had caused extensive damage to Iran’s military infrastructure, particularly facilities linked to missile and drone production. However, he acknowledged that Iran remains capable of carrying out attacks.
‘Most of the drone factories have been knocked out, most of the launching pads have been knocked out, and most of the missile manufacturing areas have been knocked out. But they still have capacity. They have some missiles, they have some drones,’ Trump told NBC News.
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He further estimated that Iran has roughly one-fifth of its original missile inventory remaining.
‘I would say percentagewise, maybe 21%-22% of their missiles. It’s a lot of missiles, but it’s not what it was when we first attacked,’ he added.
The latest assessment marks an increase from the 18 per cent figure Trump had cited in May. Nevertheless, the US president has consistently argued that American military action has severely reduced Iran’s ability to wage war.
Tensions persist despite ceasefire efforts
Trump’s remarks come at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, despite ongoing diplomatic engagement and a fragile ceasefire.
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Earlier this week, Iran launched missiles and drones towards US allies in the Gulf. Kuwaiti authorities said their defence systems intercepted 30 ballistic missiles, describing the attack as an act of ‘heinous Iranian aggression’.
In another development on Friday, Iran’s military claimed it had fired ‘warning missiles’ at two US destroyers operating in the Gulf of Oman, alleging that the vessels were forced to withdraw from the area. The US military denied the claim and said no such incident had taken place.
Later in the day, Iran reportedly launched several drones near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces intercepted and shot down at least four of the aircraft.
The US military also carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Iranian coastal surveillance radar installations located at Goruk and on Qeshm Island.
The latest military exchanges have highlighted the continuing instability in the region, with both countries accusing each other of escalating tensions even as diplomatic talks continue behind the scenes.
Trump optimistic about possible agreement
Despite the recent confrontations, Trump maintained that a diplomatic resolution remains achievable.
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According to the US president, Iran’s reluctance to accept Washington’s conditions is driven more by national pride than military considerations.
‘They’re strong, they’re proud. There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do,’ Trump said.
‘They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while.’
Trump has repeatedly stated that the standoff can be resolved either through negotiations or by sustained military pressure. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have maintained that talks remain stalled unless the United States agrees to several key demands, including the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
First published on: Jun 06, 2026 07:02 AM IST
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