Trump Acknowledges Iran's Military Capability Despite US Strikes

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that Iran still maintains military capabilities despite being the target of American attacks. “They are tough, and they are smart, and they still have a lot of capability,” Trump told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, Trump rejected reports from some American media outlets suggesting Tehran is now in a stronger position than it was four months ago. He added that, in his view, the situation is developing better for the United States than anyone could have predicted. On the night of 18 June, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum to halt a conflict that began on 28 February. However, since 8 July, the United States has launched a series of attacks against Iran. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the strikes were a response to Iranian actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces subsequently retaliated by launching attacks on several American military bases in the Middle East. Trump stated that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is no longer in effect.