President Donald Trump has firmly rejected any outreach to Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran, calling him a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” choice. Trump stated that he has no message for the new leader and believes the hereditary succession was a major tactical error by the Iranian regime. He remains focused on the military’s progress, which he describes as “very far ahead of schedule.”
The U.S. and Israel have maintained a relentless bombing campaign, striking over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury. Trump claims the war is “pretty much” complete because Iran no longer has an air force or a functioning navy. He reiterated that the goal of the “excursion” was to eliminate the leadership that had been planning an imminent attack on the U.S. and Israel.
The regional impact of the war is visible in the destruction of energy infrastructure in the Gulf, where Iranian drones have hit targets in Bahrain and the UAE. Trump warned that the U.S. response would be “twenty times harder” if Iran tries “anything cute” in the Strait of Hormuz. The President’s rhetoric is intended to project a sense of overwhelming force and total control.
In the global oil market, prices have swung wildly as investors weigh Trump’s claims of a quick victory against the reality of ongoing attacks on shipping. France has responded by sending naval vessels to the region to protect tankers, a move Trump has acknowledged as “thinking about taking over” the strait himself. The President’s focus is on restoring energy stability on American terms.
As the conflict moves into its second week, the death toll continues to rise, with more than 1,200 Iranians killed according to local officials. Trump’s “not won enough” comment suggests that while the conventional war may be winding down, the U.S. is not yet finished with its objectives. The administration is pushing for a total surrender that would end the “long-running danger” of the regime.