As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates into its second week, President Donald Trump—now in his second non-consecutive term—has issued a firm ultimatum to Tehran: de-escalate within 14 days or face “serious consequences.” This comes after Iran launched a barrage of missiles that struck Israeli civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Tel Aviv, which killed at least 23 and injured dozens more. Trump, speaking from the White House Rose Garden, declared that Ayatollah Khamenei had “unleashed hell and should expect nothing less in return.”
While progressive outlets have framed Trump’s rhetoric as inflammatory, conservative analysts praise it as long overdue leadership in the face of Iranian aggression. “We spent years appeasing Tehran,” Senator Josh Hawley said on Fox News. “It’s time someone calls their bluff.” Pentagon insiders report that the U.S. military has moved several carrier strike groups into the Eastern Mediterranean and conducted joint drills with Israeli forces—a clear signal of deterrence.
The international response has been mixed. France and Germany have called for calm, while the U.N. Security Council—largely paralyzed due to veto threats from Russia and China—has been unable to issue even a symbolic condemnation of Iran’s actions. Meanwhile, American public opinion appears to be rallying behind Trump’s more assertive posture, especially among conservative and independent voters wary of Middle East instability under previous administrations.
