During a recent Oval Office exchange, Peter Doocy questioned Donald Trump about whether he had been caught off guard by reports that Iran retaliated against several Gulf states following “Operation Epic Fury.” Doocy noted that strikes reportedly targeted countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait—an outcome many observers did not anticipate.

Trump responded that neither he nor top experts expected Iran to strike those nations, which he described as relatively neutral or historically stable in their relations with Tehran. He argued that Iran’s broader ambitions in the Middle East, including its missile development and nuclear efforts, made it a dangerous actor. Trump also reiterated his long-standing criticism of the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under Barack Obama, claiming that ending the agreement prevented catastrophic consequences for Israel and the region.

The president emphasized that U.S. military actions had significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities, asserting that missile systems, drone infrastructure, and key leadership layers had been largely destroyed. He also highlighted concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint, suggesting that instability there could have global economic consequences.

Additionally, Trump claimed U.S. forces had dismantled Iran’s naval mine-laying capacity, reducing threats to commercial shipping, though he acknowledged uncertainty about whether mines had actually been deployed.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the administration’s approach, calling it a decisive success. She stated that thousands of targets had been struck and framed the campaign as a strong response to longstanding threats. Leavitt added that Trump’s actions marked a shift away from what she described as decades of ineffective policy, portraying the current strategy as firm and results-driven.