Trump has warned about the Strait of Hormuz, hinted at talks with Tehran and even commented on Iran’s leadership – even as US officials insist the military campaign is not about regime change.
US President Donald Trump (Photo: X/@WhiteHouse)
Ten days after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump’s messaging on the conflict has moved in several directions at once. In interviews, briefings, and social media posts, the US leader has offered varying timelines, goals and outcomes for the campaign.
While the White House says the mission has clear objectives, such as weakening Iran’s nuclear programme, reducing support for militant groups and targeting its naval strength, Trump’s own remarks have often suggested something different. Here are six moments that show how the messaging has shifted.
Advertisement
At the start of the campaign, Trump indicated that the operation might last about four weeks. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said achieving the objectives could take four to six weeks.
Advertisement
More recently, however, Trump suggested the fighting could end in “two or three days”. At the same time, he also said the campaign could continue indefinitely if necessary.
On Monday, Trump told CBS News that the military campaign was “very complete, pretty much”, suggesting there was little left to accomplish militarily.
But the Pentagon posted online the same day that the operation was “just the beginning.”
At one point, Trump described the strikes as a “tremendous success.”
However, he has also said the United States will keep pushing until it achieves what he called “ultimate victory.” Last week, he said nothing short of Iran’s “unconditional surrender” would be acceptable.
Despite the hardline rhetoric, Trump has also suggested diplomacy remains possible.
He said it was still “possible” that he might speak directly with Iranian leaders, even as military operations continued.
Trump has repeatedly spoken about the war’s impact on energy markets. He said oil prices had not risen as sharply as expected after the strikes and predicted they would soon fall.
At the same time, he warned Iran that the United States could seize control of the Strait of Hormuz and said Tehran would face consequences “twenty times harder” if the shipping route were closed.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly said regime change is not the aim of the military campaign.
Trump’s remarks have sometimes suggested otherwise. In one interview, he indicated he might help determine who could lead Iran in the future and described Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable.”
Soon after announcing the strikes, Trump said his ultimate goal was “freedom” for the Iranian people and urged them to “take over” their government after the conflict.
More recently, he said the United States would like to help the Iranian people “if they can behave,” while criticising the current political system in Iran.
Advertisement
