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Is Trump any closer to an Iran exit strategy?published at 01:42 GMT
Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent
Trump appears increasingly interested in finding an off-ramp with Iran, or what he calls “winding down” the war.
But his exit strategy is unclear – and the US president’s mixed messaging suggests he’s still undecided about what would work best: ramping up the conflict to try to end it as quickly as possible, or pushing for a negotiated settlement with Tehran.
On Tuesday, Trump signalled the US may pursue both strategies at once. In a matter of hours, the Pentagon ordered ground troops to Iran, and US negotiators sent the Iranian regime a new 15-point peace plan.
By Wednesday, the White House was urging Iran to accept the deal while threatening to hit the country harder than ever if it didn’t, stoking further confusion about Trump’s intentions.
“President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters. “Iran should not miscalculate again.”
Read Daniel Bush’s analysis on Trump’s mixed messaging.