Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Donald Trump said “Mojtaba is 90% gone” as the U.S. stepped up strikes on Iranian targets and hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough faded. The remarks came as Washington and Tehran exchanged fresh strikes over the weekend, keeping the conflict on a dangerous footing.

The latest round of violence has centered on attacks against Iranian military assets, including air defense, missile, radar and drone-related positions. U.S. officials say the strikes are meant to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and U.S. interests in the region. Iran has responded with its own retaliatory actions, widening the conflict and making de-escalation harder.

Trump’s comment appears to reflect both the intensity of the campaign and the belief that the situation has moved well beyond routine brinkmanship. Whether aimed at a specific Iranian figure or used more broadly as political rhetoric, the statement underscores how sharply the rhetoric and the conflict have escalated.

With both sides still trading strikes, the chances of an immediate peace deal look increasingly remote. The latest comments from Trump and the continued military action suggest the confrontation is entering a more volatile phase.