The New York Times is out with an analysis concluding that the US has not gained much after months of war with Iran—and it quickly drew the ire of President Trump. The analysis by Neil MacFarquhar notes that when Trump launched the war, he said it would remake the Middle East and neutralize Iran. But the new memorandum of understanding ending the conflict leaves core US and Israeli concerns largely intact: Iran's nuclear program is badly damaged but not dismantled, its missile arsenal remains a threat, its regional proxies are still active, and its authoritarian system is still in place, albeit under new leadership, writes MacFarquhar. Even the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz appears to be at risk.
"This is not a document the United States agreed to because the war demonstrated a new US military superiority," MIT's Caitlin Talmadge tells the Times. "I think it's a document that has resulted from the fact that the United States bit off more than it could chew and doesn't want to escalate." The deal offers Iran major economic relief—sanctions lifted, frozen assets released, a $300 billion reconstruction fund—in exchange for a pledge to dial back hostility toward the US and its partners. But MacFarquhar suggests Washington has spent its biggest chip: the threat of force, now tested without achieving stated goals.
In multiple Truth Social posts, Trump disputed all of the above, reports the Hill. "Their Military is DONE, their Navy is GONE, their Air Force is GONE, their Launching Pads, Missiles, Drones and Manufacturing of same, is almost GONE, their top two sets of Leaders are GONE, their Inflation is at 250%, their Economy is BROKEN, their Soldiers aren't being paid, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN, THE OIL IS GUSHING, and the U.S. Stock Market and Jobs are at record HIGHS," he wrote. Trump called the analysis "treasonous" and promised he would be "adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them."
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