Donald Trump Furious at Advisors: 'It Is Unclear Where This Is Leading'
An NBC report reveals that Donald Trump lashed out at his advisors over the stalemate with Tehran. A senior US official warned of a 'strategic defeat' due to a lack of clear policy, despite the US military completing a wave of strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets.
A renewed escalation in the Middle East: following an attempted attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces against American soldiers, the US military completed this night (Thursday) a wide-scale wave of strikes against dozens of targets in Iran. At the same time, reports in the US reveal a grim picture in Washington, indicating deep frustration in the top echelons of the administration regarding the conduct of the campaign and the lack of a strategy for the day after.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that a "heavy wave of strikes" against targets of the Revolutionary Guards throughout Iran was successfully completed. According to the announcement, the strikes included dozens of facilities, including headquarters, missile and UAV infrastructure, defense and coastal sites, and naval capabilities. The military activity followed a sudden attack attempt carried out by Iran and its forces against American troops.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump promised that his country would respond with great force to these attacks, which violated the relative calm that had prevailed in the region recently. Following the resumption of fighting, an increase in oil prices was recorded, and shipping companies began looking for alternative transport routes. This follows the announcement by the Houthis — Iran's allies — that Saudi ships making their way to the Indian Ocean would be considered targets for attack.
While the military campaign continues, American officials point to severe disagreements and deep dissatisfaction within the administration. According to a report by the NBC network, President Donald Trump lashed out at his advisors last week against the backdrop of his frustration with the limited military options available to him against Tehran, and the fact that he has not yet managed to bring the conflict to an end through an agreement.
A senior American official noted that despite public statements showing satisfaction with the pace of the war's progress, in practice neither the president nor his associates are satisfied with this status quo. According to him, "after all this time, there is still no consensus," and the advisors are divided in their opinions regarding the proper plan of action.
An associate of Donald Trump added that the president did not imagine that the negotiations with the Iranians would be so complex, and that "no real strategy was formulated regarding the duration of the campaign or the stages required to reach the finish line," as his original intention was never to be dragged into a prolonged and complex war.
Meanwhile, another American official stated that the army is forced to prepare for another large-scale attack in the absence of clear policy guidelines:
"We have achieved a series of tactical victories, but we are facing a strategic defeat due to a lack of clarity in policy or the absence of a decisive decision as to where all this is leading."
