Trump Calls Iran Conflict ‘Small Potatoes’, Hints at ‘Pickaxe Mountain’ Strike

US President Donald Trump has described the ongoing confrontation between the United States and Iran as an intermittent “military conflict” rather than a full-scale war, calling it relatively minor.

Trump claimed that the US controls the Strait of Hormuz and has prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also said Washington’s latest strikes had been followed by several days without further shooting.

“We took over Venezuela and we have essentially taken over Iran,” Trump said, while claiming that Iran could take 25 years to rebuild if the US ended its operation immediately. However, he gave no clear timeline for when the confrontation might end.

Trump also addressed China’s role in the conflict, saying he had personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping not to intervene. According to Trump, China has had “very little involvement” despite receiving substantial oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump further argued that the strategic importance of the Strait could decline as new pipelines and overland routes are developed across the Middle East, providing alternatives for transporting oil.

His remarks come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the future of the US military operation and the wider regional security situation remaining uncertain.