Trump's goals for the Iran war and what he's saying now

Left: <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-iran-deal-reparations/" rel="noopener nofollow">Trump tipped his hand and revealed the new &#39;big lie&#39; he&#39;s trying to sell: analyst — www.rawstory.com
Left: <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/white-house-biggest-leaker/" rel="noopener nofollow">&#39;Biggest leaker&#39; in the Trump White House singled out by ex-CNN anchor — www.rawstory.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/vance-israel-only-ally-trump-iran-deal" rel="noopener nofollow">Vance warns Israel: Don&#39;t fight &quot;only ally&quot; Trump on Iran deal — www.axios.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/israel-reaction-trump-iran-deal-netanyahu" rel="noopener nofollow">Netanyahu fumes, allies rage over Trump&#39;s Iran deal — www.axios.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/18/nx-s1-5863027/us-iran-trump-memorandum-of-understanding-full-text" rel="noopener nofollow">Read the full text of Trump&#39;s preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement to end the war — www.npr.org
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/trump-iran-war-power-no-limits" rel="noopener nofollow">Exclusive: Trump tells The Axios Show there are &quot;no limits&quot; to his power after Iran war — www.axios.com

Source: www.cbsnews.com · Section: headlines · Bias: Center · Published: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:40:04 GMT

When the U.S.-Iran conflict began, President Trump laid out a litany of aggressive war aims. Here's what the president and his top aides said then — and how their views have changed.