Iran’s Strength Shown While Trump Claims Victory

The U. S. has learned that the Iranian government remains solid, a fact that clashes with President Trump’s repeated claims of a finished war. After eleven days of fighting, intelligence reports say the regime still holds power over its people and is far from collapsing. On the first day of conflict, senior Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Khamenei, were targeted. His son Mojtaba was appointed as his successor, but no sign of surrender has appeared from the new leadership. Trump, however, kept repeating that America had “won” in many ways. He told a group of Republicans in Miami that the war was largely over, and later told CBS News it seemed almost finished. In Kentucky he even declared victory in the first hour, then contradicted himself by urging that they finish the job.Both the National Intelligence Office and the CIA declined to comment on the matter, while the White House and Pentagon were also silent. The conflict has drawn more U. S. casualties, including a recent strike that killed six service members and left many others with serious injuries treated in Germany. Trump has said he does not rule out U. S. troops staying in Iran. U. S. forces rely partly on Kurdish militias from Iraq to fight the regime, but intelligence sources doubt their chances because they lack sufficient weapons and troops.