"I Think We've Won" Trump Says As Iran Refuses Hormuz Talks, Houthis Threaten Red Sea Strait

Friday, Mar 20, 2026 - 02:30 PM

Summary

CBS reporting 'heavy preparations' for ground troops as Trump says 'no ceasefire' for now; Trump calls NATO a 'paper tiger'; says "close to meeting our objectives", offramp?

IRGC contradicts Bibi: says missile production is ongoing, is of "no concern" - even as IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naeini is reported killed.

Energy war ongoing: Major sites damaged across the region - Haifa refinery hit, Qatar LNG output cut 17%, Kuwait facilities ablaze.

Kharg Island escalation looms: Trump admin weighing seizure of Kharg Island to reopen Hormuz; Thousands of Marines in route, reports of low US jet strafing runs over strait.

Signal of zero restraint from Ayatollah & FM: Iran sends warning if energy sites are hit again, leadership structure grows opaque; supreme leader says enemies will be denied security.

Chokepoint concerns in Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb send Brent and WTI prices higher in late afternoon trading

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Trump: No Ceasefire, We've Won, 'Other Nations - Not US - Must Guard Strait'

More somewhat confusing rhetoric on Iran plans from Trump: He said late in the afternoon Friday US strikes on Iran are "weeks ahead of schedule" - but caveated that he expects oil prices to surge more than they have. He repeatedly emphasized that he does not want a ceasefire - "we’re not looking to do that" - while leaving the door open to dialogue, insisting talks don't necessarily require halting the fighting. He said all this while also proclaiming "I think we've won." He also expressed he thinks Israel will wind down the war when the US does.

Trump asserted further that Iran's military has been severely degraded, saying it has "no radar, spotters, aircraft" and that key leaders have been killed, concluding: "from a military standpoint Iran is finished" and "I think we’ve won." He also said Israel would be ready to end the war when the US does, noting both countries "want more or less similar things."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hormuz-showdown-begins-us-warplanes-apaches-launch-sea-lane-offensive-trump-eyes-high