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Three weeks in, Iran war escalates beyond Trump’s control
President Donald Trump ends the third week of the Iran war confronting a crisis that seems to be slipping out of his hands: Global energy prices are surging, the United States stands isolated from allies and more troops are preparing to deploy despite his promise the war would be only a “short excursion.”
A defensive Trump called other Nato countries “cowards” for refusing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and insisted the campaign was unfolding according to plan. But his declaration on Friday that the battle “was Militarily WON” clashed with the reality of a defiant Iran that is choking off Gulf oil and gas supplies while launching missile strikes across the region.
Trump, who took office promising to keep the US out of “stupid” military interventions, now appears to control neither the outcome nor the messaging of a conflict he helped to initiate. The lack of a clear exit strategy carries risks both for his presidential legacy and his party’s political prospects as Republicans scramble to defend narrow majorities in Congress in the November midterm elections.
“Trump has built himself a box called the Iran war, and he can’t figure out how to get out of it,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Republican and Democratic administrations. “That’s his biggest source of frustration.”
A White House official challenged that characterisation, with many of Iran’s top leaders eliminated in targeted killings, most of its navy sunk and its ballistic missile arsenal largely destroyed.
“This has been an undisputed military success,” the official said.
Limits of Trump’s powers
The limits of Trump’s power — diplomatically, militarily and politically — were thrown into sharp relief over the past week.
He was caught off-guard by the resistance of fellow Nato members and other foreign partners to deploying their navies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to another White House official who, like other officials Reuters spoke to for this story, was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
With the president not wanting to appear isolated, some White House aides have advised Trump to quickly find an “off-ramp” and set limits on the military operation’s scope, said one person close to the discussions. But it was unclear whether that argument was enough to sway Trump.
In the view of some analysts, allies’ unwillingness reflects not only their reluctance over entanglement in a war they were not consulted on, but a backlash against his belittling of traditional US alliances since his return to office 14 months ago.
Differences with Israel also have begun surfacing, with Trump insisting that he knew nothing in advance about the Israeli attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, while Israeli officials said the strike had indeed been coordinated with the US.
Trump now finds himself at a crossroads in Operation Epic Fury with no clear sign of which path he might take, analysts say.
He could go all-in and intensify the US offensive, possibly even seizing Iran’s oil hub on Kharg Island or deploying troops along Iran’s coast to hunt for missile launchers. But that would risk a long-term military commitment that the American public would mostly oppose.
Or, with both sides rejecting negotiations for now, Trump could declare victory and try to walk away, which could alienate Gulf allies who would be left with a wounded, hostile Iran – one that could still pursue a crude nuclear weapon and still exert control over shipping in the Gulf. Iran has denied it is seeking a nuclear weapon.
Reuters reported on Friday that the US military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, although no decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself.
The war has also shown Trump’s once-iron grip over his MAGA movement is weakening, with prominent influencers speaking out against the conflict. While his base has mostly stood with him so far, analysts say that Trump’s control could weaken in the coming weeks if gas prices keep rising and US troops are deployed.
“As the economics play themselves out,” Republican strategist Dave Wilson said, “people will start to say: ‘Why am I paying high gas prices again? … Why is the Strait of Hormuz now determining whether or not I can take a vacation next month?'”
As the economics play themselves out,” Republican strategist Dave Wilson said, “people will start to say: ‘Why am I paying high gas prices again? … Why is the Strait of Hormuz now determining whether or not I can take a vacation next month?'”
Miscalculations
Since the war’s start on February 28, there has been a growing realisation within the administration that the conflict and its consequences should have been better mapped out in advance, according to two sources familiar with White House thinking, although the first White House official countered that the campaign was extensively planned and well-equipped for any potential action.
Analysts say Trump’s biggest misjudgment was over how Iran would respond to a conflict that it considers existential.
Tehran has retaliated with its remaining missiles and a fleet of armed drones to offset its foes’ military superiority, striking neighboring Gulf states and mostly shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for one-fifth of the world’s oil.
Whether or not Trump and his aides foresaw the dangers, they have been unable to counter them effectively.
“They failed to think through the contingencies around ways in which a conflict with Iran could go sideways, where it might not go according to the plan as they laid out,” said former US ambassador John Bass, who served in Afghanistan and Turkey.
As the conflict has dragged on, there have been increasing signs of Trump’s frustration with his inability to control the narrative. In recent days, he has torn into the news media, advancing unfounded allegations of “treason” for reporting that he sees as undermining the war effort.
“He’s finding it difficult to drive the news cycle, as he’s accustomed to, because he still can’t explain why he’s taken this country to war and what comes next,” said Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration who now heads the Situation Room strategic consultancy in Washington. “He seems to have lost his mojo on messaging.”
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday announced a revised schedule for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after deciding to hold the tournament without spectators under the government’s austerity measures.
In a significant restructuring, the number of host cities has been reduced from six to two, with all matches now set to be played exclusively in Lahore and Karachi. The decision aligns with officially announced national resource conservation efforts.
According to the updated itinerary, the tournament will comprise 44 matches played over 39 days, with each city hosting 22 fixtures. The opening match between the Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars remains unchanged.
Lahore will host Eliminators 1 and 2, as well as the final, while the Qualifier will take place in Karachi.
As the tournament temporarily adopts a watch-from-home model, organisers have confirmed the introduction of enhanced broadcast and production features designed to deliver a superior viewing experience for fans in Pakistan and around the world.
League officials expressed confidence that audience passion, combined with innovative coverage, would make this one of the most widely watched editions to date.
Addressing the absence of in-person spectators, a statement acknowledged that crowds at stadiums would be sorely missed.
It was estimated that an average of 30,000 spectators and associated support staff travelling daily for over a month would place considerable strain on energy resources.
By limiting the tournament to two cities, the league said it would also significantly reduce the extensive operational arrangements, transport logistics, and utility overheads associated with a six-city event.
Organisers reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality cricket while aligning with national priorities, stating that the league would proceed with the unity, discipline, and excellence that have established it as a defining symbol of Pakistan’s sporting strength.
Revised PSL 11 schedule:
- Mar 26 – Match 1: Lahore Qalandars vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 27 – Match 2: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 28 – Match 3: Peshawar Zalmi vs Rawalpindiz (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Mar 28 – Match 4: Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 29 – Match 5: Quetta Gladiators vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Mar 29 – Match 6: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Mar 31 – Match 7: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 1 – Match 8: Multan Sultans vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (7:00 PM)
- Apr 2 – Match 9: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United (2:30 PM)
- Apr 2 – Match 10: Rawalpindiz vs Karachi Kings (7:00 PM)
- Apr 3 – Match 11: Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 4 – Match 12: Rawalpindiz vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 5 – Match 13: Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 6 – Match 14: Multan Sultans vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 8 – Match 15: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Peshawar Zalmi (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 9 – Match 16: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United (2:30 PM)
- Apr 9 – Match 17: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi (7:00 PM)
- Apr 10 – Match 18: Quetta Gladiators vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 11 – Match 19: Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars (2:30 PM)
- Apr 11 – Match 20: Karachi Kings vs Hyderabad Kingsmen (7:00 PM)
- Apr 12 – Match 21: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 13 – Match 22: Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans (7:00 PM)
- Apr 15 – Match 23: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 16 – Match 24: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Rawalpindiz (2:30 PM)
- Apr 16 – Match 25: Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United (7:00 PM)
- Apr 17 – Match 26: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 18 – Match 27: Lahore Qalandars vs Rawalpindiz (7:00 PM)
- Apr 19 – Match 28: Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans (2:30 PM)
- Apr 19 – Match 29: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators (7:00 PM)
- Apr 21 – Match 30: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 21 – Match 31: Rawalpindiz vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 22 – Match 32: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 22 – Match 33: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 23 – Match 34: Rawalpindiz vs Islamabad United (Karachi, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 23 – Match 35: Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 24 – Match 36: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Islamabad United (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 25 – Match 37: Quetta Gladiators vs Karachi Kings (Lahore, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 25 – Match 38: Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 26 – Match 39: Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Rawalpindiz (Karachi, 2:30 PM)
- Apr 26 – Match 40: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 28 – Qualifier (Karachi, 7:00 PM)
- Apr 29 – Eliminator 1 (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- May 1 – Eliminator 2 (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
- May 3 – Final (Lahore, 7:00 PM)
Chappell Roan is being heavily criticised on social media after a security incident with a young fan in Brazil, who was the daughter of footballer Jorginho, and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro himself has taken action.
The 27-year-old pop superstar reportedly sent a security guard to the young girl who smiled at her in a hotel, and he yelled at the mother and her child until the young fan was reduced to tears.
Although the Good Luck, Babe! hitmaker later defended herself on social media, claiming that she was not aware of the altercation, and neither did she send the guard over, she is now banned from Brazil’s Todo Mundo No Rio music festival.
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere, took to X and wrote in Portuguese, “I mean that as long as I’m in charge of our city – this young lady will never perform at Todo Mundo no Rio!”
The music festival is scheduled for later this year, and is described as the biggest dance floor in the world, but Roan would not be performing there.
The latest public incident follows Roan’s recent altercation with paparazzi in Paris, which also became a topic for heated debate earlier this month.
Dividing fans, and critics, the singer drew equal criticism and applaud for drawing clear boundaries with fans.
However, the incident with Jorginho’s daughter disappointed fans all the same and they urged Roan to take accountability.
Taylor Swift will be attending her first award show of 2026 on Thursday, March 26, and Swifties believe there is a special reason behind her appearance.
The 36-year-old pop star will attend the iHeartRadio award show where she is the most-nominated star.
While many fans believe that the Eras Tour performer might make her red carpet debut with her husband-to-be Travis Kelce, many are also speculating a music-related announcement in the show.
A fanpage on X shared the news that well-placed sources have teased that Swift will be making a special announcement at the award ceremony.
Soon after the post went viral, social media sleuths flocked to the comments reacting to the news, and making speculations.
“DEBUT TV it’s your time to shine,” some fans echoed, theorising that Swift would be announcing the re-release of her self-titled album which she previously revealed she had re-recorded.
The Grammy winner will also mark the 20th anniversary of her debut album this year as she released it in October, 2006.
Another most-guessed announcement was also the Elizabeth Taylor single release, which has been the talk of the pop world for a while.
Swift has been promoting the song on Spotify as well as on radio, and is believed to have recorded the music video as well.
The rumoured single, or the re-release, Swifties believe an announcement is imminent at the award show, because “Taylor nation said special appearance so.”
Regardless, fans don’t have to wait for long as the music awards are scheduled for Thursday this week.
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