President Trump warned on Monday that the US military campaign against Iran is far from over. Speaking to CNN, he said the biggest strikes are still ahead.
“We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” Trump said.
Trump also acknowledged uncertainty around Iran’s leadership. This follows the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “We don’t know who the leadership is. We don’t know who they’ll pick,” he told CNN.
However, Reuters reported Sunday that many senior US officials remain skeptical. Despite Trump’s tone, they doubt the military operation will lead to regime change in Iran any time soon.
Why This Matters to You:
Trump’s warning signals this conflict is entering a more dangerous phase. For everyday people, that means continued oil market volatility and higher fuel prices. It also raises the risk of broader regional escalation involving other nations.
The uncertainty around Iran’s leadership adds another unpredictable layer. With no clear successor to Khamenei, there is currently no obvious counterpart for future diplomacy.
It is worth thinking about: If regime change is the goal but senior US officials doubt it is achievable, what is the real endgame here? And with the Supreme Leader dead and no clear successor identified, could the power vacuum make Iran more or less dangerous in the short term?
