Trump hails “victory” over Iran in self‑congratulatory post but pursues diplomacy

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump declared sweeping success in the U.S. confrontation with Iran, boasting in a lengthy social media post that American forces had “wiped out” Iran’s navy, crippled its air force, and imposed a blockade costing Tehran “$500 million a day.”

He accused major U.S. newspapers of misreporting the war and insisted the outcome was already assured under his leadership.

میں ایک جنگ جیت رہا ہوں، **بہت بڑے فرق سے**، حالات بہت اچھے جا رہے ہیں، ہماری فوج حیران کن رہی ہے اور اگر آپ ‘فیک نیوز’ (جھوٹی خبریں) پڑھیں، جیسے کہ ناکام ہوتا ہوا ‘نیویارک ٹائمز’، بالکل گھناؤنا اور کراہت آمیز ‘وال اسٹریٹ جرنل’، یا اب تقریباً ختم ہونے والا، خوش قسمتی سے، ‘واشنگٹن… pic.twitter.com/O7OZqfKMz6

— Ghazanfar Abbas (@ghazanfarabbass) April 21, 2026

The statement, characteristically bombastic and self‑congratulatory, underscored Trump’s effort to project strength at home and abroad. Yet even as he claimed overwhelming military and economic dominance, Washington prepared to send Senator JD Vance to Islamabad for a second round of talks aimed at managing escalation and keeping diplomatic channels open.

Analysts said the juxtaposition highlighted the dual track of Trump’s Iran policy: a public narrative of decisive victory, paired with quiet recognition that diplomacy remained necessary to reassure allies, prevent miscalculation, and test whether mediation could ease Gulf tensions.

Trump greenlights Vance trip to Pakistan after initial security “flip-flop”

Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a mediator, had readied extraordinary security measures in its capital for the anticipated talks. Iran’s withdrawal from the dialogue earlier this week cast doubt on the process, but U.S. officials signaled they were still willing to engage, even from what Trump described as a “position of strength.”