‘We have all the cards’: Trump says US war on Iran ‘nearing completion’

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump declared the month-long war in Iran as a near success, claiming US military objectives were almost complete, though he provided little detail on how the conflict would end in the next two to three weeks.
• The conflict has caused significant economic disruption, including a spike in global oil prices due to Iran’s closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and attacks on shipping, with gas prices in the US surpassing $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022.
• Despite Trump’s claims of having decimated Iran’s navy and air force, the war continues with ongoing missile attacks, strikes in Tehran, and casualties exceeding thousands in Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and among US forces.
• Mixed signals from the US administration have created uncertainty about war objectives, with Trump suggesting a ceasefire depends on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran’s new leadership denies ceasefire requests and accuses the US of waging an unjust war.
• Trump has criticized NATO and US allies for their lack of support in the conflict, even considering withdrawing from NATO, while thousands of US troops remain in the region amid the possibility of a broader ground campaign.