U.S. President Donald Trump stated that it would take 25 years for Tehran to recover. Claiming that a “regime change” had taken place in Iran, Trump said that when he sent the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln to Iran, “they would surrender.” He also reiterated statements that Cuba would be next and announced that he would visit China within two weeks.
After sending a letter to the U.S. Congress announcing that active hostilities with Iran had ended, President Trump made further statements. He claimed that it would take 25 years for Iran to recover after the war.
In his speech, Trump said:
“It will take 25 years for Iran to recover from the war. Iran is now deprived of air defense and radar systems, and its military capabilities are completely paralyzed.”
“It was a real regime change”
Referring to the killing of certain leaders in Iran, Trump argued that a “real regime change” had taken place following the elimination of the top two levels of leadership:
“What happened in Iran was a real regime change that occurred after the top two tiers of leadership were eliminated.”
“When I send the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, they will surrender”
Trump also stated that the U.S. would not leave Iran “early” and allow the issue to resurface, adding:
“We will not leave Iran early and allow the problem to re-emerge. When I send the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Iran, they will surrender.”
“After Iran, we will deal with Cuba as well”
Reiterating his previous remarks, Trump said that Cuba would be next after Iran and that it “should surrender as soon as it sees the massive aircraft carrier returning from Iran”:
“After we are done with Iran, we will also deal with Cuba. Cuba should surrender as soon as it sees our massive aircraft carrier returning from Iran.”
“I will make a very important trip to China within two weeks”
Finally, referring to the planned but later canceled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30, Trump said:
“I will make a very important trip to China within two weeks.”