As the war with Iran entered its second week, President Donald Trump delivered a series of mixed signals, suggesting that the conflict could be nearing its end even as he vowed not to relent.
The Unsettling Trajectory
Monday's events underscored the uncertain trajectory of a conflict that has rapidly expanded across the Middle East and raised fears in Washington that it could deepen into a longer and deadlier war.
In a phone interview with CBS News, Trump portrayed the war on Iran as nearly finished, stating, "I think the war is very complete, pretty much." This assessment came as the United States and Israel had launched a wave of strikes against Iran's military capabilities.
A Different Tone in Florida
However, hours later, speaking to Republican lawmakers gathered for a House policy retreat in Florida, Trump struck a very different tone, describing the war as unfinished and pledging continued military pressure.
"We've already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough," Trump told the crowd, which responded with applause.
Uncertainty from the Pentagon
The President's comments reflected an Administration still struggling to define both the goals and the expected duration of a war that has caused a widening humanitarian and economic toll across the region.
The Defense Department posted a message on social media on Monday, declaring, "We have only just begun to fight," which stood in contrast to the President's insistence that the war could soon be finished.
The war has already seen the killing of over 1,300 people in strikes inside Iran, while Iranian attacks across the Middle East have killed more than 30 people, according to reports.
The Broader Shift
As the conflict continues, experts warn that the war could have far-reaching consequences, including a destabilization of the Middle East and a potentially long and bloody conflict.
Speaking to TIME, a senior U.S. official acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the war, stating that the goals and expected duration of the conflict are still unclear.
The official pointed to the shifting explanations from senior officials for the initial strikes on Iran, which have at times emphasized Iran's nuclear ambitions, the need to protect American troops and allies in the region, or pointed to Israel's own military plans.
The Humanitarian Toll
The war has already produced a devastating humanitarian toll, with hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced and a widening humanitarian crisis in the region.
"We're going to have a much safer world as soon as it's finished," Trump said Monday, predicting that the campaign would end quickly.
However, experts warn that the conflict's end may not be as imminent as the President suggests, and that a long and bloody conflict could be on the horizon.
