Investing.com -- President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran is "begging to make a deal" following three weeks of U.S. military strikes under Operation Epic Fury, claiming the campaign has destroyed most of Iran’s military capabilities.

Speaking during a Cabinet Meeting, Trump said the U.S. has eliminated Iran’s navy and air force, destroyed approximately 90% of missile launchers, and wiped out a large percentage of missiles and drone manufacturing facilities.

"Over the past three weeks, we’ve been hitting Iran’s military capabilities at a level that few people have ever seen before," Trump said. "We’re crushing their missiles and drone stockpiles, destroying their defense industrial base. We’ve wiped out their navy completely. Their air force completely."

Trump said the Iranian navy, which consisted of 154 ships, was sunk in less than a week, calling it "the largest elimination of a foreign navy that has taken place, maybe ever. But certainly since World War Two."

The president disputed media reports suggesting the U.S. was seeking negotiations, stating instead that Iran has been "decisively defeated" and is now seeking talks.

"They are begging to make a deal, not me," Trump said. "They should have done that four weeks ago. They should have done it two years ago, or they should have done it when we first came into office."

Trump said the military operation was launched to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The president said Iran had fired missiles at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Oman, claiming this demonstrated Iran’s plan to take over the Middle East.

Trump estimated the operation would take 4 to 6 weeks to complete and said the U.S. is ahead of schedule at 26 days in.

"The Iranian regime is now admitting to itself that they have been decisively defeated," Trump said. "They can’t make a comeback. We’re free to roam over there cities and towns and destroy all of their crazy nuclear weapons and missiles and drones that they’re building."

Trump said Iran now has a chance to make a deal and permanently abandon nuclear ambitions. If a deal is reached, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, he said.

The president also said all 22 Iranian mine-dropping vessels have been destroyed using the same weapons used to stop drug trafficking by sea.

Trump expressed disappointment with NATO allies, saying they failed to assist the U.S. during the operation.

"NATO has done absolutely nothing," Trump said. "We’ll come to their rescue, but they will never come to ours."