President Donald Trump has said a US general described sinking Iranian vessels as "a lot more fun" than capturing them, during a speech in Kentucky promoting a challenger to the Republican congressman Thomas Massie.
Mr Trump boasted of "decisive action" against Iran, claiming the US military had "knocked out 54 ships in two days" to prevent Tehran from laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He said he had asked why the ships were not captured for use in the US Navy, but was told by a general that doing so was more enjoyable.
The president also claimed the conflict with Iran had been "won" and was effectively over "in the first hour". In a separate interview with Axios, he said there was "practically nothing left to target" and that the US was "way ahead of the timetable".
Mr Trump used the event to criticise his predecessor Barack Obama, calling him "a weak, pathetic person" and repeating a false claim that the nuclear agreement negotiated during Mr Obama's second term gave Iran the right to have a nuclear weapon. He also attacked wind power, claiming China sought to sell "garbage" wind turbines to the West while relying on coal itself. In fact, China operates roughly half of the world's wind power generating capacity.
The speech comes amid rising petrol prices and questions over whether the administration can address cost-of-living concerns before November's midterm elections. The president said he could end the conflict "any time I want it to end".
