"Trump told NBC News that Iran's leaders made a "big mistake" by elevating Khamenei, but predicted the war could be over before the timeline of four to five weeks he had earlier laid out. "I think the war is very complete, pretty much," he told CBS News. Soon after, Trump described the war to Republican lawmakers as a "short-term excursion" and said it would continue until Iran is "totally and decisively defeated.""
"Iranian state media showed large crowds in several cities rallying behind the new leader, waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of his father Ali Khamenei, killed by an Israeli strike on the war's first day. In Isfahan, state TV reported the sound of nearby explosions from apparent airstrikes as loyalists gathered in the historic Imam Square, chanting "God is the Greatest" below a stage with portraits of Ali and Mojtaba Khamenei."
"In a further sign of defiance, Iran's military said it would step up its missile strikes. Politicians and institutions issued pledges of loyalty to the new supreme leader, whose wife, son and mother also died at the start of the US-Israeli air onslaught according to Iranian state media."
President Trump predicted the Middle East conflict could conclude soon, contradicting Iran's hardline response to new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment. Trump declared Iran made a "big mistake" elevating Khamenei and demanded unconditional Iranian surrender, describing the war as nearly complete yet requiring continued fighting until Iran's total defeat. Simultaneously, Iran staged massive public demonstrations of loyalty to Khamenei across multiple cities, with crowds gathering in Isfahan amid airstrikes. Iranian military announced escalated missile strikes, while politicians and institutions pledged allegiance to the new leader. These conflicting signals created market volatility, with oil prices and stock markets fluctuating sharply following Trump's comments and reports of potential Russian energy sanctions relief.
#middle-east-conflict #iran-leadership-transition #trump-administration-policy #military-escalation #market-volatility
Read at Irish Independent
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