Trump received “very sobering briefings“ from US intelligence and was aware of the IRGC’s potential to gain influence in Iran even before he gave the green light to launch a joint war with Israel, The Washington Post reported, citing a source.
“This wasn’t just predictable. It was planned. He was told in advance,” he said.
The newspaper notes that despite more than two weeks of continuous airstrikes, US intelligence assessments indicate that the Iranian regime is likely to remain in power. The corps is also expected to tighten its control. Analysts see little prospect of a more democratic government.
The United States and Israel have significantly weakened Iran's missile capabilities and navy, ousted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and killed scores of senior military and intelligence officials. But the cost of the war is also rising – At least $12 billion has been spent so far and 13 American service members have died, according to the article.
Axios reported on Monday that the US war with Iran is the first time that a US president has not been able to easily resolve the situation through improvisation or negotiations.
While Trump is counting on a quick and clear victory, unlike tariffs that can be quickly imposed and then lifted, the outcome of the war does not depend on unilateral action and the president of the White House risks finding himself “stuck between his desires and the reality of war“.
The agency specifies that the White House initially expected an intensive military operation lasting four to six weeks, but Washington and its allies are already preparing for a longer escalation – instability in the Middle East and the US operation could last until September.
According to Trump himself, by launching a military operation against Iran, the US prevented a nuclear war and subsequently World War III.