Donald Trump Defends Iran Strikes Amid Prolonged Conflict
President Donald Trump defends the February 2026 strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as he faces criticism over conflicting war timelines and rising energy prices.
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes across Iran that resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The operation, which Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convinced the U.S. president to authorize, caused significant civilian casualties, including 150 deaths at an elementary school. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. and Israeli bases and restricting maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Seven months into the conflict, Donald Trump has defended the decision, claiming he eliminated the Iranian nuclear threat in one night. While Trump previously predicted the entire war would last four to six weeks, he now asserts that timeline referred only to the nuclear threat. Military and nuclear experts dispute this claim, stating the attacks set back Iran's nuclear program without eliminating it or securing highly enriched uranium.
Internal friction emerged as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth distanced the Pentagon from the president's predictions, stating the military would operate as long as necessary to achieve its objectives. The prolonged conflict has destabilized the Middle East, causing energy prices to spike and increasing inflation, which has drawn criticism from voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
