'A victory for the United States': Karoline Leavitt praises military success in Iran

The White House has declared the U.S. military campaign in Iran a "victory", claiming the operation earned President Donald Trump the "maximum leverage" for diplomatic negotiations. In a statement on social media, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argued that strong battlefield outcomes have helped the U.S. broker potential long-term peace solutions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Leavitt added that people should not underestimate the President's ability to "advance America’s interests" and "broker peace," and hinted that more details will soon be shared by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt wrote in her post. She added that Trump had estimated from the very beginning that "Operation Epic Fury" would last four to six weeks, and the ceasefire agreement falls in line with that. "Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days," she claimed.

Furthermore, Leavitt claimed that the success of the U.S. military created "maximum leverage", allowing Trump to engage in tough negotiations that have "now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace". She then celebrated the re-opening  of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that people should, "Never underestimate President Trump’s ability to successfully advance America’s interests and broker peace." 

As of Wednesday, both the U.S. and Iran have confirmed the acceptance of a two-week ceasefire, with further talks set to begin on Friday with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, mediating the negotiations in the country's capital, Islamabad, according to Al Jazeera. Furthermore, Tehran has ensured the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for the period through coordination with the country's armed forces. In a late- night social media post, Trump called it "a big day for World Peace!" and claimed that the U.S. "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz." He claimed "Big money will be made" and Iran can soon start the reconstruction process with the U.S. loading up "all kinds of supplies" and hanging around to make sure "everything goes well". However, it's unclear when that will happen, and what role the U.S. might play in reopening the critical waterway. 

However, the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire is still unclear, and the President hasn't shared any details on exactly what role the U.S. military will play in the Strait. Trump had also mentioned that a 10-point proposal from Iran, which is workable, is being deliberated upon, and it may soon provide long-term peace solutions. Citing state media, The Guardian reported that the 10-point peace plan requires lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran, complete Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, an end of all attacks on Iran and its allies in the Middle East, withdrawal of U.S. military from the region, release of Iranian assets and a UN security council resolution to make any deal binding.