US President Donald Trump says American strikes on Iran have significantly damaged the country’s military capabilities, claiming its navy, air force and communications infrastructure have been heavily hit, Al Jazeera reports.

He says US forces have destroyed 42 Iranian naval vessels in recent days and knocked out much of the country’s air power and telecommunications systems.

Trump adds that recent US strikes targeted facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, claiming Tehran had been close to obtaining a nuclear weapon before the attacks.