WSJ reports Trump hardening military posture toward Iran as diplomacy stalls

TEHRAN, Iran — The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has grown increasingly skeptical that diplomacy with Iran can succeed and has shifted toward a tougher posture of sustaining military operations against Tehran. Citing a U.S. official, the newspaper said Trump attacked Iranian leaders in stark terms during a recent White House meeting, calling them "crazy" and saying Iran "only understands military force." The same official said Trump views himself as in "revenge" mode on Iran and sees no better option than continuing military action. The Journal, citing U.S. sources, also reported that the war has taken a personal toll on Trump and his senior advisers, and that intelligence warnings have pointed to Iranian assassination threats. Separately, two U.S. sources said Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff continue to believe a deal with Iran remains possible even as diplomatic chances narrow. U.S. Central Command announced that strikes on targets inside Iran have now been carried out for a thirteenth consecutive night, that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping, and that more than 50,000 American troops are deployed in the region. No further details on the diplomatic track were immediately available.