Washington: US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran's missile and drone production capabilities have been significantly diminished following recent US military strikes. Trump indicated that Iran now retains only "21%-22%" of its original missile arsenal.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump discussed the impact of US actions in an interview with NBC News, portions of which were released ahead of its Sunday broadcast. The President emphasized that the strikes had effectively targeted and destroyed "most of the drone factories, launching pads, and missile manufacturing areas" within Iran. Despite these setbacks, Trump acknowledged that Iran still possesses some missile and drone capacity, though it is a fraction of what it once was.

When questioned about Iran's reluctance to agree to a deal to permanently end the conflict that began on February 28, Trump attributed it to Iran's pride and the difficult adjustments they face. He mentioned that Iran is in a position where they must make choices they never anticipated, but the process requires time. Additionally, Trump defended his decision to withdraw from the original Iran nuclear agreement during his first term, arguing that negotiating such deals is a lengthy process, especially given the long history of conflict in the region, which he noted has persisted for 47 years.