US President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected suggestions that the conflict with Iran has exposed the limits of American power, declaring there are ‘no limits’ to what the United States can achieve.His comments come after the United States and Iran formally entered into a peace deal by digitally signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending months of hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump was asked what he had learned from war about the limits of his ability to exercise power.“I haven’t learned that lesson yet. I know there are, but there are no limits,” Trump said.The comments came as Trump entered the conflict demanding Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’, but ultimately agreed to a more limited memorandum of understanding to end the fighting.
Trump nevertheless insisted that the outcome represented a military victory for Washington and argued that the agreement itself was a form of surrender by Tehran.“We defeated them completely militarily,” he said, adding that the memorandum of understanding “is potentially an unconditional surrender.”The US President also argued that the conflict had demonstrated US military strength rather than its limitations.Trump said, “Who else could have done this kind of blockade? I did a naval blockade where not a single ship could get through. Some tried. It didn’t last very long.”At the same time, he acknowledged that prolonging the conflict could have serious consequences for the global economy.Responding to critics who argued he should have taken a tougher stance toward Iran, Trump said escalating military operations would have risked disrupting global oil supplies.He said, “I can be more tough if I go there for the next two or three weeks and continue bombing them. Right? But what will we get from that? The Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.”Trump said, “We won’t have oil for several months. As long as you’re dropping bombs, that thing shuts itself off.”Warning about the wider economic impact of a prolonged conflict, he said: “This is something that could cause a worldwide depression.”
Trump’s comments offered a glimpse of the ideas behind the agreement with Tehran after months of military confrontation.However, critics and many analysts have argued that the agreement shows how far Washington has retreated from its original demands. Before the conflict, the US had insisted that Iran end most domestic uranium enrichment activities, transfer its enriched uranium stockpiles abroad and dismantle key elements of its nuclear program.Under the new memorandum, Iran retains the right to continue uranium enrichment under agreed terms, while discussions on its stockpile and future nuclear activities will continue. The agreement also includes phased sanctions relief and economic incentives aimed at encouraging further negotiations.Analysts have argued that the deal falls short of the objectives outlined by Washington before the war and amounts to an admission that military pressure alone cannot satisfy all of America’s demands.Under the agreement, both sides agreed to cease hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin negotiations on a comprehensive framework covering sanctions relief, economic cooperation and Iran’s nuclear program.The agreement also includes a phased process of easing sanctions on Iranian oil exports and discussions on the future of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves under international supervision.The memorandum was digitally signed by Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and came into force immediately after the two leaders approved the document.Defending the agreement, Trump said it reflected the strength of the United States rather than a retreat from their earlier objectives.During the interview he argued, “The war demonstrated the breadth of our power, not its limits.”