In a significant shift in rhetoric, former US President Donald Trump has characterised the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran as a "short-term excursion" that will conclude "very soon". Speaking as the assault entered its second week, Trump asserted the war was "very complete, pretty much" and ahead of schedule, marking a departure from earlier suggestions of a prolonged conflict lasting several weeks.
Vague and Contradictory Statements
However, Trump stopped short of declaring mission accomplished, stating, "We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough." He later clarified that operations would only cease once Tehran is stripped of any capacity to target the US, Israel, or regional allies for an extended period. This press conference, described by global affairs correspondent Andrew Roth as vague and contradictory, underscores the fluid nature of the crisis.
Oil Market Turmoil and Iranian Threats
Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a stark warning, vowing to halt all oil exports from the region if US-Israeli attacks persist, threatening "not one litre of oil" would flow. Trump retaliated with a threat to intensify strikes if Iran disrupts oil traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz. Following Trump's comments about an imminent end to the war, oil prices surged by 20% to a four-year high before settling below $90 per barrel. Iran mocked the US over the price spike, branding the campaign "Operation Epic Mistake".
Leadership Tensions and Regional Escalation
Trump twice declined to confirm whether Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is a target, expressing disappointment and predicting continued problems under his leadership. This follows Trump's dismissal of Khamenei's selection as a "big mistake". Meanwhile, Israel has openly vowed to target Khamenei, even as large crowds in Tehran demonstrated defiant support for him.
Israel launched a second wave of strikes against Tehran today, with the IDF claiming to target "terror targets" but reportedly hitting critical energy infrastructure affecting ordinary Iranians. Additionally, Israel pressed its offensive against Hezbollah with raids in southern Lebanon and airstrikes in Beirut. Lebanese state news reports 486 deaths, including at least 83 children, and 600,000 displaced since 2 March, raising fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Wider Regional Fallout
Fresh Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted Israel, US bases across the Middle East, and Gulf energy infrastructure. British Typhoon jets intercepted drones heading towards Jordan and Bahrain, while Turkey reported Nato defences shot down a ballistic missile in its airspace, the second such interception from Iran in a week.
In a humanitarian gesture, Australia granted visas to five female Iranian footballers following an appeal from Trump to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlighting the crisis's broader impacts.
