- Trump claims Iran's air force, navy, and leadership, including Khamenei, have been destroyed
- Comments came after Iran denied reports of seeking talks with US, despite claims of leadership outreach
- US-Israel joint strike on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks and edged Middle East to brink of war, again
A little over 72 hours ago a joint US-Israel attack on Iran triggered retaliatory strikes and brought the Middle East to the brink of war – for the second time in 10 months.
On Tuesday evening Donald Trump signalled the 'end' of hostilities, claiming Iran's Air Force and Navy had been destroyed and its leadership structure – starting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – eliminated. In a brief Truth Social post, in which the US President shared an opinion published by the Washington Post – 'We're witnessing the birth of the Trump doctrine' – he crowed: "Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said “Too Late!”
Trump's proclamation came a day after Ali Larijani, the powerful head of the Supreme National Security Council, said Iran would not negotiate with the US. On X Larijani denied media reports claiming Iranian officials had sought talks with Trump.
It also lined up with what a senior White House official told Associated Press - that leadership candidates within Iran had reached out for talks. Trump, the official said, said he would 'eventually' talk but only after the military operation ends.
He had earlier told British taboid Daily Mail this would likely be a "four-week process".
Regime change is widely acknowledged as one of the drivers for the current US-Israel strikes; Trump believes a new Iran leadership will be more amenable to having external regulatory oversight over its nuclear programme than the Islamic regime.
Beginning Saturday afternoon (India time), US-Israel forces launched ballistic missiles, including the Tomahawk from warships in the Persian Gulf, and conducted air strikes using its fleet of fifth-gen stealth fighters, i.e., the F-22 and F-35.
NDTV Special | Cheap Drones, Claude AI, Cyberattacks: Behind US-Israel's 'New' War On Iran
Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and suicide UAV attacks - with its low-cost Shahed drones taking centre-stage -that not only hit targets in Israel and American military bases, but also civilian buildings in neighbouring Gulf nations.
Visuals over the weekend showed a luxury Dubai hotel in flames and waves of drone attacks also forced airport closures. The Dubai airport – a critical hub for Europe-Asia flights – was closed for several hours leaving over 50,000 people stranded.
US-Israel attacks targeted Iran regime buildings in Tehran, including those of the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, and reportedly also hit civilian centres, including a girls' school, in which over 150 people, including children, were killed.
On Day 1 Iran leader Khamenei was killed in a strike on his compound in central Tehran.
The strike, 'months in the planning', according to media reports, involved the hacking of traffic cameras to track Khamenei's convoy and confirm his location on the day of the attack. Trump declared "I got him before he got me" when told of his death.
Iran's response was to escalate missile and drone attacks at US targets, including embassies and military bases, while also amping up rhetoric against the US over future strikes. Missiles continued to hit targets across Gulf countries late Tuesday.
Why was Iran attacked?
The attack was triggered by Iran insisting on an 'inalienable right to enrich its nuclear fuel' and claiming it had 'evaded oversight protocols' to amass 460kg – likely enough to build 11 nuclear bombs – Special Envoy Steve Witkoff claimed.
READ | Top US Diplomat Reveals Exactly Why Iran Was Attacked. 'They Boasted...'
In an interview to Fox News, he said: "Iranian negotiators made it clear their goal is to maintain enrichment for purpose of armament... told us directly, and without shame, that they have 460kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent. They were aware they could make 11 nuclear bombs."
As the conflict raged the global energy trade took a hit, particularly after Iran 'closed' the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway it controls by default, and through which a fifth of the world's oil trade is shipped.
READ | India Could Be Forced To Play Russia Oil Card If Iran Conflict Drags On
India relies heavily on oil imported via this route - nearly half its six million barrels of crude per day, according to some estimates - and is considering emergency measures, including buying more oil from Russia, to offset potential volatility.
With input from agencies
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