MIAMI — In a fiery keynote address at the Saudi-backed FII Institute summit in Florida, former President Donald Trump declared that U.S. forces have “annihilated” Iran’s military capabilities and that Tehran is now “begging to make a deal.”
Speaking to a global audience of investors and policymakers under the theme “Capital in Motion,” Trump claimed Operation Epic Fury has left Iran “decimated” and no longer a regional threat. “For 47 years, Iran has been the bully of the Middle East — but not anymore,” he said. “They are on the run.”
“Tonight, we’re closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror, aggression, and nuclear blackmail — that’s what’s happened. It was nuclear blackmail for years and years and beyond that. It was blackmail — period,” Trump said during his address.
“Under my leadership, America is ending the threat posed by this radical regime, decimating Iran’s capabilities with Operation Epic Fury. Nobody’s ever seen anything quite like it. We have the most powerful military in the world … For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East. But they are not the bully not any longer. They are on the run,” he added.
Trump said U.S. armed forces have been “annihilating” Iran, adding that they are “begging to make a deal.”
“We’re negotiating now, and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it up. They have to open up the Strait of Trump — I mean Hormuz. Excuse me, I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake,” he said, acknowledging that he was making a joke.
Trump said the conflict in Iran also makes it “absolutely vital” for the “radical left” in Congress to end the “dangerous” shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. He said Democrats are “playing games” and described them as “lunatics.”
He also lashed out at Democrats, accusing them of endangering national security by withholding funding for Homeland Security and immigration enforcement. “They want no ICE. No Border Patrol. Open borders,” he said. “They’re lunatics playing games.”
Trump’s remarks came amid heightened global anxiety over energy markets and geopolitical instability. He joked about “the Strait of Trump” — quickly correcting himself to “Hormuz” — while insisting negotiations are underway, contingent on Iran’s willingness to “open up.”
The summit, drawing over 1,500 global leaders, continues through the weekend, with discussions on AI, capital flows, and energy markets amid rising global tensions.
