'We won.' 'Winding down.' 'Close to over.' Six months of Trump on the Iran war

Key Points:

• Over the past six months, President Trump has frequently shifted his stance on the Iran war, alternating between conciliatory and antagonistic remarks, while often contradicting himself and his Cabinet on the conflict's progress and prospects for resolution.
• The war, initiated by the U.S. and Israel, has resulted in significant casualties: at least 18 U.S. service members killed and 758 wounded, with thousands more dead in Iran, Lebanon, and Israel, alongside widespread military strikes and retaliations.
• Trump repeatedly claimed the U.S. was succeeding militarily, asserting Iran was "defeated" and that the conflict was "going unbelievably," yet the war expanded with continued attacks by Iran-backed groups and ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes.
• Despite announcing and signing a 60-day ceasefire memorandum with Iran, Trump maintained a readiness to resume military action if terms were not met, while both sides continued limited strikes and economic pressure rather than full-scale combat.
• As the war nears six months, both the U.S. and Iran have largely shifted focus to economic sanctions and diplomatic maneuvering, with Trump threatening severe economic consequences for nations supporting Iran and Iranian officials vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until threats and sanctions end.