U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) this week that Iran "will soon surrender."

According to Axios, Trump made the remark on a video call on Tuesday, boasting about the successes of a U.S.-led military operation targeting Iran's missile power, navy, and defense industry.

Trump told the leaders that "we have eliminated the cancer that was threatening all of us," reportedly referring to "Operation Epic Fury," which has struck Iranian military targets over the past two weeks.

Axios reported that officials from three G7 countries briefed on the call said Trump expressed confidence that the Tehran regime is on the verge of collapse due to sustained attacks by the United States and Israel.

At the same time, Trump suggested that the Iranian leadership structure had been so weakened that there might no longer be anyone with the authority to officially surrender.

"Nobody knows who the leader is, so there is no one to announce the surrender," Trump was quoted as saying. 

The remarks came as the conflict entered its second week, with U.S. officials stating that Iran's military capabilities had been severely degraded.

Defense officials stated that the operation had destroyed thousands of targets, including missile launchers, naval vessels, and weapons production facilities.

In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump declared that the U.S. military was "completely destroying the terrorist regime of Iran" and asserted, "If you read the failing New York Times, you will wrongly think we are not winning."

He wrote, "Iran's Navy is gone, Air Force no longer exists, all of their missiles, drones and everything else are being destroyed," adding, "We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition and all the time in the world."

Trump emphasized, "They have been killing innocent people around the world for 47 years, and now, as the 47th President of the United States, I am finishing them. There is no greater honor!"

Despite Trump's confidence, Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first public statement the following day, Thursday, vowing to continue the fight and threatening to escalate the conflict.

In remarks broadcast on state television, Khamenei vowed revenge for Iran's "martyrs" and suggested that the West could escalate attacks in a "very fragile" region.

Iran has also continued to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

Tanker attacks in the region have already sent international oil prices (Brent crude) above $100 a barrel and raised concerns about economic repercussions.

According to Axios, several G7 leaders urged Trump during their call to quickly end the war and secure the Strait of Hormuz to stabilize global energy markets.

Trump reportedly stated that the situation around the strait was improving and that merchant shipping would soon return to normal.

Trump presented a "vague" timeline for the end of the conflict, according to officials present on the call, but stressed the need to "complete the mission" to prevent Iran from rebuilding its military or nuclear capabilities.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Editor of NNP, USA / Special Correspondent for this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com