‘Gambler’ Trump Under Fire: Iran Vows to End the War

On Monday, Iran declared that the recent U.S. strike on its nuclear facilities had broadened the scope of legitimate military targets for its armed forces. The Iranian government criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a “gambler” for aligning with Israel’s military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The tensions escalated after Trump authorized the use of powerful bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday morning. Since then, Iran has repeatedly warned of retaliation. However, while Iranian forces have continued launching missile attacks on Israel, they have so far refrained from taking direct action against the United States—choosing not to target American military bases or disrupt the critical shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around 20% of the world’s oil trade.

In a video statement delivered in English, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command, issued a stark warning to Trump: “Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”

Meanwhile, Iran and Israel exchanged further missile and airstrikes on Monday as the international community anxiously awaited Tehran’s full-scale response.

Despite the rising tensions, the Trump administration maintains that the strikes are solely aimed at eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities and not intended to provoke a wider regional conflict. However, Trump’s own words on social media appear to suggest otherwise. In a Sunday post, he hinted at the possibility of regime change in Iran, questioning whether the current leadership is capable of improving the country’s future.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump wrote.

Satellite analysts reviewing commercial imagery indicated that the U.S. strikes may have inflicted extensive damage on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, which is located deep inside a mountain. Though there is no independent confirmation yet, the imagery suggests that the facility and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed may have been destroyed.

Trump celebrated the attack, calling it a direct hit: “Bullseye!!!” he posted online. “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran,” he added. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level.”