Trump ignored top-level warnings before launching Iran war: report

The February operation in Iran started by US President Donald Trump against the country despite the warnings of his intelligence director, vice-president and senior military officials who had cautioned that the military operation would lead to a global energy crisis and a more radical regime in Tehran, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Sources close to pre-war consultations told WSJ that then-director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned Mr Trump that assassinating Iran's supreme leader will likely usher in a more hardline successor and will result in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the busiest waterways in the world where one-fifth of all global oil and gas trade pass through.

While US Vice-President JD Vance argued for a more cautious strategy and a diplomatic agreement to avoid war and its "unwieldy consequences", top military officers including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Dan Caine briefed Mr Trump on decisive strike options. However, other officials have voiced out concerns on the shortage of ammunition and the dangers of overstressed US forces. According to sources, the president brushed off their worries and told them that the military will handle whatever comes.

Mr Trump was reportedly pleased with the commencement of the war and even puffed out his chest during a fundraiser in Mar-a-Lago after he was told that then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been assassinated.

But as the fuel price spiked and the war stalled, leaders from the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Qatar pleaded with the US for a diplomatic solution. An internal poll revealed that almost 80 percent of Americans favor a peace deal which eventually forced Mr Trump to broker the June interim truce.

Some Republicans also urged the president to think of the impact of the war on his party's performance in the November mid-term elections.

The 60-day window for nuclear negotiations expired without reaching a final deal on August 17.

The US administration reverted to Operation Economic Outcast which is an economic warfare campaign designed to topple the regime using naval blockades and economic sanctions.