At a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio on October 13, 2026, President Donald Trump said the United States might have gone too far in killing senior Iranian officials, noting that the move has complicated diplomatic negotiations.
Trump added that prospective leaders are reluctant to assume power in Iran.
He asserted that American forces destroyed Iran's navy, sinking all 159 vessels. Vice President JD Vance also noted uncertainty in Iranian decision‑making.
Trump said the United States destroyed Iran’s air and naval forces, emphasizing the scale of the operations.
Trump said the United States destroyed Iran’s air and naval forces, emphasizing the scale of the operations.
On the same day, the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization reported that Iran had exported over five million tons of oil and petroleum products from Shahid Rajaee port, indicating that blockades have not halted all shipments.
Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei responded by threatening US infrastructure in the Middle East, underscoring rising tensions.
Trump also stated that nobody wants to be the president of Iran, even though Masoud Pezeshkian has held the office since July 2024.
He repeated that the administration no longer knows who they are dealing with in Iran, describing the situation as a result of having gone too far with the leadership.
In remarks that appeared in Russian, Trump said, "Возможно, мы зашли слишком далеко с лидерами, ведь мы больше понятия не имеем, с кем, черт возьми, мы имеем дело," which translates to “We might have gone too far with the leaders because we don’t know who the hell we’re dealing with any more.”
Finally, he characterized the fate of the Iranian naval vessels, saying they are “resting beautifully in the bottom of the sea.”