Trump was warned an Iran war could spiral. Six months later, it has

In February, President Trump initiated military action against Iran, despite warnings from then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and senior military leaders about potential escalations, casualties, and global market destabilization. Gabbard cautioned that killing Iran’s supreme leader could lead to a harder-line government and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Six months later, the conflict persists, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still in control and continued attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The war has resulted in an estimated 3,000 Iranian and 18 US military deaths, strained US resources, and negatively impacted Trump's approval ratings. The administration has now shifted to an economic pressure campaign, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," aiming to achieve through sanctions what military force and diplomacy have not.