Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump stated during a prime-time address that the conflict with Iran was nearing completion, but left critical questions regarding strategy, escalation, and the endgame of the war unanswered, according to reports from American media following his speech.
The President offered no clarity on whether US ground troops would be deployed in Iran, despite ongoing discussions in Washington about potential operations, reports said. He also avoided outlining any diplomatic pathway or exit strategy, even as he said the conflict could last another two to three weeks, according to coverage by The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Trump made only a limited reference to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, suggesting other countries — particularly those dependent on Middle East oil — should take the lead in reopening it. “We will be helpful, but they should take the lead,” he said, adding that the waterway would “open up naturally” once the conflict ends, as cited in US media reports.
The New York Times said that Trump did not detail the role of key allies, including Israel, despite the joint nature of military operations in the region. Nor did he address coordination with NATO partners, even as reports indicated earlier tensions over alliance support. On Iran’s political future, Trump said regime change was not our goal, even as he suggested leadership changes had already taken place following US and Israeli strikes, according to The Washington Post’s live coverage.
