Trump Thought Iran Was Cornered. Then THIS Happened | TIMES EXPLAINS

Donald Trump’s latest airstrikes on Iran were intended to project strength and force Tehran into submission. The strategy relied on the belief that sustained military pressure would push Iran back to negotiations and weaken its resolve. Instead, Iran responded with missiles, drones, and defiant rhetoric, launching what it described as the first phase of a retaliatory campaign. By refusing to back down, Tehran challenged Washington’s expectations and signalled resilience, raising fears of deeper escalation and a widening regional confrontation.