Trump calls Iran war a ‘military exercise’ even as Hormuz fighting heats up and denies promising no new wars — despite repeated pledges

Missiles and drones are flying across the Persian Gulf, but President Donald Trump minimized the war the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran 100 days ago. In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, he was asked if the U.S. is at war with Iran in light of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent comment that it has concluded. “Well, they’ve been largely decapitated. And I call it a military exercise because people would rather have it called that. It’s not a big war for us. It’s not,” Trump replied. Meanwhile, a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has been in place for about two months, but talks for a more lasting peace have stalled. As a result, the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed, though more traffic is flowing, and the U.S. is maintaining a naval blockade, which is considered an act of war. “They put up a blockade and so we blockaded them,” Trump told NBC. “And we have the ultimate blockade. I don’t consider that a war, but if you want to define it as such, I guess you can.” He later added, “I don’t define it at all. I don’t think about it. I just do what I have to do.” But fighting has not completely stopped. In fact, it’s heating up as Iran has launched missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region, while also threatening commercial ships. The U.S. has responded by shooting down the projectiles, destroying Iranian boats, and bombing missile sites in Iran that tried to shoot down U.S. aircraft. Last weekend, the U.S. disabled a ship attempting to breach its naval blockade by firing a missile into the engine room. Also last weekend, the U.S. conducted “self-defense strikes” in Goruk, Iran, and Qeshm Island. On Friday, Central Command said U.S. forces shot down Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf neighbors. Then Central Command announced Saturday evening in the U.S. (early Sunday in the Mideast