Trump Unleashes Conflicting Claims on Iran War — Dismisses Peace Deal Importance

WASHINGTON – The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route, needs support from America’s NATO allies, yet President Trump insists their involvement is irrelevant. He claims the war against Iran is already “won,” while simultaneously deploying thousands of ground troops to the region. Whether a peace deal materializes soon is inconsequential, he asserts.

As the conflict approaches its one-month mark, Trump continues to criticize U.S. allies while simultaneously providing Iran with billions in sanctions relief, all without a clear strategy to resolve the hostilities. “They are begging to make a deal, not me,” he stated Thursday, elaborating that the urgency for negotiations stems from Iran's dire situation: “The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit.”

During a lengthy monologue followed by a question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump presented a series of contradictory statements regarding a war that has resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and significant casualties among Iranian forces. The conflict has also contributed to rising gasoline prices and inflation at home.

Trump’s remarks often blur the line between fact and fiction, leaving observers questioning the veracity of his claims. Frustration was evident when he reacted to a Wall Street Journal article suggesting he was eager to conclude the war. “I read a story today that I’m desperate to make a deal…. I’m the opposite of desperate. I don’t care,” he declared, emphasizing that there are still targets he intends to strike before any withdrawal.

Despite proclaiming victory in the war—“We already won”—he also mentioned the possibility of seizing Iranian oil and hinted at military action to confiscate uranium. The deployment of ground troops raises concerns about increased American casualties, as they would be more vulnerable than U.S. aircraft and naval vessels.

Robert Kagan, a former State Department official and current analyst at the Brookings Institution, expressed concern over the troop deployment. “He definitely is going to use ground troops. They wouldn’t be sending them if they didn’t plan to use them,” Kagan remarked, suggesting that Trump is attempting to manage market reactions while preparing Republicans for potential military engagement.

Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with NATO allies for not supporting his actions against Iran, incorrectly claiming that they have never assisted the U.S. in military endeavors. “I said 25 years ago that NATO is a paper tiger,” he stated, failing to acknowledge that NATO’s mutual defense clause was invoked only after the September 11 attacks.

He further claimed that the status of the Strait of Hormuz is irrelevant for Americans because the U.S. is now a net oil exporter. “We don’t need the Hormuz Strait. We don’t need it at all,” he insisted, despite evidence that global oil prices are interconnected and any disruption affects costs domestically.

Later in the day, Trump announced via social media that he would delay his planned attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, which could be considered a war crime. “As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days,” he wrote, referencing ongoing negotiations that remain unsubstantiated.

The timeline for a potential peace agreement remains uncertain, with Trump’s “special envoy” to Iran, Steve Witkoff, presenting a 15-point peace plan that Iran dismissed as unserious. “I don’t think a deal is coming,” remarked John Bolton, a former national security adviser who has criticized Trump’s lack of a coherent strategy.

In light of the absence of a swift resolution, one former national security council staffer suggested two possible outcomes: “Trump either folds and tries to declare victory or he escalates,” they noted. The latter scenario poses significant risks for U.S. forces, while the former may falter if Iran does not retreat from its aggressive stance.