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Donald Trump has repeatedly said that his war with Iran is already won (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
In those early days of conflict, officials from both U. S. and Israel urged Iranian citizens to rise up against their authoritarian government established since 1969 when an Islamic revolution ousted U. S.-backed dictator Shah of Iran. His successor Ayatollah Khomenei enforced strict cultural laws while maintaining tight control over protests even today.
When mass protests didn’t happen in March as hoped for by officials, talk shifted away from regime change strategies within U. S. circles. However, Israel’s government-pointed out by various U. S officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio-has shown no signs indicating they plan an exit strategy without seeing total collapse within Tehran’s leadership first.
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu has been blamed by some U. S. officials as having goaded or led the U. S. into war with Iran (AP)
“The war is not close to ending,” stated Gen. Eyal Zamir head of Israel’s armed forces during remarks made Saturday.
This view starkly contrasts Trump’s statements made via Truth Social later that same day: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran,” he insisted.
Meanwhile back home in America; both Trump’s allies and opponents are pushing him towards finding an “off-ramp”. Concurrently though; some D. C neoconservatives along older Republicans continue supporting efforts aimed at dismantling what they see as enduring threats posed by longstanding adversaries like Tehran who’ve consistently defied multiple American presidents throughout time periods past.
Trump’s initial term had focused heavily upon addressing issues surrounding relations between both countries first withdrawing participation from Obama-era JCPOA agreement intended mainly around oversight concerning developments related solely towards Irans’ nuclear programs before implementing maximum pressure tactics later resulting ultimately culminating near potential clashes never witnessed prior decades long standing feuds ahead fueled further still following orders resulting assassinations targeting Qassem Soleimani-a former high-ranking member involved within IRGC himself thereafter escalating tensions further.
The fallout stemming now current military engagements appears responsible partly behind rising gas prices surfacing across regions not just inside America but beyond also due primarily attributed actions taken restricting oil shipping movements specifically found flowing through key waterways namely situated within Straits connecting between Oman & Persian Gulf areas pivotal trading routes affecting global markets overall.
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