What They’re Saying About Operations Epic and Economic Fury and Project Freedom—May 10, 2026
U.S.
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
President Donald Trump | Press Interview
“I said [the Iranian regime is] defeated, but that doesn’t mean they’re done. We could go in for two more weeks and do every single target. We’ve done probably 70 percent of the targets. We have other targets that we could conceivably hit. But even if we didn’t do that, it would take them many years to rebuild.”
President Donald Trump | Press Interview
“We’ll get [Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium] at some point . . . We have it surveilled. I did a thing called Space Force, and they are watching that . . . If anybody got near the place, we will know about it—and we’ll blow them up.”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“For 47 years the Iranians have been ‘tapping’ us along, keeping us waiting, killing our people with their roadside bombs, destroying protests, and recently wiping out 42,000 innocent, unarmed protestors, and laughing at our now GREAT AGAIN Country. They will be laughing no longer!”
“Over 20 U.S. warships are enforcing the blockade against Iran. CENTCOM forces have redirected 61 commercial vessels and disabled 4 to ensure compliance.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright | Press Interview
“The economic pressure on Iran right now is increasing dramatically. Not only is their government in the country losing their main export revenues because of our blockade, but also, the Economic Fury operation that we launched, starting just a few weeks ago, is collecting the monies of the corrupt IRGC leaders that they've squirreled away abroad.”
Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz | Press Interview
“What I can tell you is Operation Economic Fury is devastating the Iranian economy right now. Their currency is in free fall, their foreign currency reserves are near-zero . . . you’re seeing our Gulf Arab allies not only completely aligned with us—standing with us diplomatically, economically, and militarily—and many of them often played both sides when it came to Iran.”
ISRAEL
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Press Interview
“I think [the war] accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over. . . . [Removing highly enriched uranium from Iran] can be done physically.”
IRAN
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat. Rather, the goal is to uphold the rights of the Iranian nation and to defend national interests with resolute strength.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi | X
“France has announced that it has dispatched the aircraft carrier ‘Charles de Gaulle’ to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to prepare for a future joint mission between Paris and London aimed at strengthening freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz region. Meanwhile, the British government has also announced that, in coordination with France, it will deploy one of its warships to the Red Sea. Any deployment and stationing of extra-regional destroyers around the Strait of Hormuz, under the pretext of ‘protecting shipping,’ is nothing but an escalation of the crisis, the militarization of a vital waterway, and an attempt to cover up the true root of insecurity in the region. . . . Accordingly, it is emphasized that the presence of French and British warships, or those of any other country potentially accompanying the illegal and internationally unlawful actions of the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, will be met with a decisive and immediate response from the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, they are strongly advised not to complicate the situation further.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei | X
“Throughout history, Iranians have stood not only against single invaders, but against powerful ‘pluses’ and grand ‘legionnaires’ — and have always emerged with honor. . . . History repeats itself — for those who refuse to study it or respect its lessons.”
GULF STATES
“The Ministry of Defense announced that on May 10, 2026, UAE air defense systems successfully engaged 2 UAV’s launched from Iran. Since the onset of these blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,265 UAV’s. No martyrs, fatalities, or injuries have been reported in the past hours.”
“The Ministry of Defense of the State of Qatar announces that a commercial cargo vessel in the country's territorial waters—northeast of Mesaieed Port—coming from Abu Dhabi, was targeted by a drone on Sunday morning. The incident resulted in a limited fire onboard the vessel, with no reported injuries. The vessel continued its journey toward Mesaieed Port after the fire was brought under control. The necessary measures were taken, and coordination was carried out with the relevant authorities.”
“HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held a phone call on Sunday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi. . . . HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed the State of Qatar's full support for mediation efforts aimed at resolving the crisis through peaceful means, stressing the need for all parties to respond to these efforts in a way that contributes to creating the appropriate conditions for progress in negotiations and limits the possibilities of renewed escalation. His Excellency also stressed that freedom of navigation is a well-established principle that must not be compromised, and that closing the Strait of Hormuz or using it as a pressure card would only lead to deepening the crisis and exposing the vital interests of the region's countries to danger.”
“The State of Qatar condemns the drone attack targeting the sisterly State of Kuwait, describing it as a blatant violation of Kuwait's sovereignty and a flagrant breach of international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the need to halt unjustified attacks against sisterly countries.”
Kuwait Army General Headquarters | X
“The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, stated that the armed forces detected, at dawn today, a number of hostile drones within Kuwaiti airspace, and they were dealt with in accordance with established procedures.”
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