United States President Donald Trump has built much of his political brand on unpredictability. But analysts say his shifting messaging over the war with Iran is increasingly obscuring a deeper problem: the failure to secure the quick victory he appeared to promise. The conflict escalated dramatically following the killing of Ali Khamenei during a joint US-Israeli strike in late February. Iranian state media later confirmed the death of the long-time leader after the airstrik

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump defended last year’s US strikes, claiming they led to the “obliteration of Iran’s nuclear programme.” Moments later, however, he warned that Iran’s ballistic missile ambitions and potential nuclear capabilities still posed an urgent threat.