Trump has made several U-turns on his statements in the past, but what he did in the Iran-Israel war has etched a particularly disgraceful chapter in history. He had officially announced that before any military action against Iran, he would allow two weeks for negotiations. Yet just two days later, the world was left stunned when news broke that the US had dropped some of the world’s most expensive bombs using its most expensive aircraft on Iran’s nuclear installations.
This action not only damaged Trump’s personal credibility but also tainted the dignity of the office of the US President. It set a precedent that even the most powerful figures in the world cannot be trusted to keep their public promises.
Immediately after the attack, Trump held a press conference claiming that Iran’s nuclear capability had been completely destroyed. In response to the US assault, Iran attempted to strike back by targeting the American airbase in Qatar, launching six missiles. The world was again taken aback when Trump—who had earlier threatened a severe retaliatory response—expressed joy, saying that Iran had responded much more weakly than expected, causing no damage.
According to Trump, Iran fired 14 missiles, 13 of which were intercepted by the US defence system. One missile was allowed to land in a deserted area. Trump even thanked Iran, claiming they had given advance notice of the strike. Soon after, Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, stating that Iran had vented its anger and now there was a chance to move toward peace in the region. A full ceasefire had been declared.
Earlier reports had suggested that Iran was warned in advance of the B-2 bombings on its nuclear sites, so that it could evacuate personnel and remove radioactive material. Iran managed to secure 400 kg of enriched uranium at another location — something that may become a source of future conflict. As for Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, it’s being said that rebuilding it could take several years.
Official figures say that during the war, 28 Israeli civilians were killed and more than 3,000 were injured. Iran launched 550 ballistic missiles and nearly a thousand drones. On the other side, Iranian officials claimed that 610 people were killed and over 4,700 injured. One must acknowledge that in this 12-day war, Israel displayed extraordinary intelligence capabilities. From day one to the ceasefire, Israel systematically targeted Iran’s top military leadership and nuclear scientists — some were killed in their homes, others in their cars or offices.
Israeli aircraft penetrated deep into Iranian airspace and conducted strikes across the country. Multiple military bases and buildings in Tehran and other cities were heavily damaged. On the other side, Iran’s missile strikes shook the world’s Muslim population—one-third of Tel Aviv was reduced to rubble. Other Israeli cities like Haifa began to resemble Gaza. Ports and oil refineries were destroyed. For the first time, Israeli citizens experienced the true meaning of devastation. Terrified, many Jews began fleeing the country, and a lasting fear was planted in their hearts. All of Israel’s costly defence systems failed.
This war has encouraged other countries in the region with the realization that Israel is not an invincible force. A determined resistance can force even an illegitimate state to its knees.
From this conflict, all parties can claim victory. The US can say it won by eliminating a major threat by destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel can claim success for targeting Iran’s military leadership, nuclear scientists, and key installations, while flying freely over Iranian airspace throughout the conflict. Iran can claim a win by saying it foiled a regime-change attempt, heavily damaged Israel with its missile attacks, and even responded to the US by targeting its base in Qatar.
The war also revealed that Iran never seriously considered closing the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s oil passes daily—because doing so would have driven oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, giving the US and Europe a strong justification for further military action. Arab nations might have also openly turned against Iran. While Iran has made such threats before, it has never acted on them—because doing so would hurt China’s oil supply and economically devastate Iran itself. Rising inflation would trigger unrest among the Iranian population, destabilizing the government.
This war also shattered the illusion that Russia or China would offer practical support to Iran. During the peak of the war, Iran’s Foreign Minister carried a special message from Ayatollah Khamenei to Moscow. Although President Putin warmly received him, his response was cold—saying only that Russia would try to help the Iranian people. He also refused to mediate between Iran and Israel.
Meanwhile, China limited itself to issuing condemnations. Though China has long supported Iran by purchasing its oil, it remained neutral in this conflict. There is no doubt that China has the military capability to support Iran fully, but it chose not to take any risks.
Regarding regime change, it had been reported early in the war that Israel planned to target not only Iran’s military leadership but also its spiritual leader Ayatollah Khamenei. However, Trump blocked this plan. Later, Trump himself declared that he knew where Khamenei was hiding but would not target him. During this time, both Trump and Netanyahu hinted at a regime change in Iran.
Now the most important question remains: Is this ceasefire permanent? Can Trump’s words be trusted?