Trump says US considering 'winding down' Iran war as Tehran fires long-range missiles
Why it matters: Iran's long-range missile strikes and Trump's mixed signals on withdrawal create global instability and energy market uncertainty.
- Iran launched two 4,000 km-range ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia, marking its first use of long-range missiles in the conflict and expanding its reach beyond the Middle East, according to Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir.
- Israel views these missiles as a direct threat to European capitals like Berlin, Paris, and Rome, not just Israel, highlighting the expanded risk.
- US President Donald Trump announced the US is nearing its objectives and considering "winding down" its military efforts against Iran, while simultaneously insisting other nations take primary responsibility for policing the Strait of Hormuz.
- Britain's defence ministry noted the attack occurred before specific authorization was given for the US to use British bases for strikes on Iranian missile sites, adding a layer of complexity to allied involvement.
- Trump's administration has sent mixed messages, with the President suggesting a wind-down even as US Marines and heavy landing craft head to the region, leaving allies uncertain.
- Energy price shocks and over 2,000 deaths in Iran since the conflict began are fueling public concern in the US, creating political liability for Trump ahead of November elections.
- NATO allies have been accused of cowardice by Trump for their reluctance to help open the Strait of Hormuz, with most hesitant to join a war initiated without their consultation.
As Iran escalates its military actions by firing long-range ballistic missiles at a US-UK base in the Indian Ocean, expanding the conflict beyond the Middle East for the first time, US President Trump signals a potential "winding down" of US operations while urging other nations to police the Strait of Hormuz.
