Escalation in US-Israeli operations against Iran
The United States and Israel are engaged in a military campaign against Iran, following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader but stated that the U.S. is not currently planning to deploy ground troops to Iran. Despite reports suggesting potential Delta Force missions to neutralize nuclear sites, Trump emphasized that no decision on ground intervention has been made. A significant diplomatic rift emerged after Israeli airstrikes hit 30 fuel storage facilities in Tehran on March 9. While Israel claims these facilities support military operations, U.S. officials were reportedly surprised by the scale of the strikes and criticized the action, fearing it would drive up global oil prices and unify the Iranian public against the West. Trump noted that any final decision to end the war will be made jointly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conflict has proceeded without broad international consensus, surprising many European allies.