Trump's Iran dealmaking reputation challenged amid war setbacks

• President Trump and Iran's officials exchanged threats following recent strikes.
• Trump stated Iran had taken too long to negotiate and would 'pay the price'.
• Iran's Foreign Minister warned against unanswered attacks.
• The US struck Iranian sites near the Strait of Hormuz after a US army helicopter was downed.
• Iran claimed to have struck 21 US bases in Bahrain and Jordan.

President Donald Trump and Iranian officials have exchanged threats of further action following recent strikes between the two sides. Trump stated on social media that Iran had taken "too long to negotiate a deal" and would now "have to pay the price," adding that the country's military was a "complete and total mess" and had been "completely defeated."

These comments followed Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that the country would "leave no attack or threat unanswered," asserting that the US had suffered "defeats on the battlefield." The US military Central Command (Centcom) reported striking Iranian defence systems, ground control stations, and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz after a US army helicopter was downed. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched strikes on 21 targets at US bases in Bahrain and Jordan, while Kuwait's army reported intercepting an attack.

The conflict has now extended beyond 100 days, surpassing President Trump's initial prediction of four to five weeks for its duration. Qatari negotiators were also in Tehran to finalize an agreement after consultations with the United States. Comedian Jon Stewart has publicly criticized Trump's approach to the situation, questioning his reputation as a dealmaker.