Trump Calls Iran War 'Small Potatoes,' Says US Has 'Essentially Taken Over Iran' as CENTCOM Sinks Tankers

President Trump, spending the weekend at his Bedminster, New Jersey club, told reporters Saturday, September 5, 2026 that he considers the six-month war with Iran 'small potatoes' for the United States, adding, 'We took over Venezuela and we have essentially taken over Iran.' The remarks came the same day US Central Command struck and sank multiple Iranian oil tankers, including the M/T Kylo, in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island, which Washington said were helping finance the IRGC and its regional proxies — retaliation after Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired ballistic missiles at two US Navy vessels. CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper said, 'If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours.' Trump also defended Vice President Vance's earlier comment questioning whether the conflict should even be called a war, despite 18 US service members having died since the fighting began February 28.