U.S. military
Operation Epic Fury Begins
Major U.S. combat operations against Iran begin while nuclear diplomacy was still active.
Source: U.S. Department of War ↗February 2026
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Iran / commercial shipping
HORMUZ CLOSED #1
Iran says navigation is closed after the opening attacks. Major tanker owners and energy companies suspend transit.
Source: Reuters ↗March 2026
Claims, pauses, deals and breakdowns1
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White HouseWIN CLAIM #1 / 42
Victory Release
“Victory in action.”
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Pete HegsethWIN CLAIM #2 / 42
“Destroyed. Defeated.”
Hegseth says Iran’s air force is “no more” and its navy is “combat ineffective, decimated, destroyed, defeated.”
Source: Pentagon transcript ↗Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #3 / 42
Roundtable Remarks
War performance: “about a 15” out of 10.
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #4 / 42
Air Force One Remarks
“Winning the war by a lot.”“Decimated their whole evil empire.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #5 / 42
“Very Complete, Pretty Much”
Trump says the war is “very complete, pretty much,” adding that Iran has no navy, communications or air force.
Source: Reuters ↗10
Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #6 / 42
Truth Social Claim
Ten mine-laying vessels “completely destroyed.”
source ↗
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #7 / 42
“We Won”
Trump says “we won,” that “in the first hour it was over,” and that the United States had “virtually destroyed Iran.”
Source: Reuters ↗12
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Gen. Dan Caine / PentagonWIN CLAIM #8 / 42
Navy “Combat Ineffective”
The Pentagon says Iran’s navy had been rendered “combat ineffective” in less than two weeks.
Source: Pentagon transcript ↗Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #9 / 42
Joint Base Andrews Remarks
“A lot of big wins today.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #10 / 42
Air Force One Remarks
“Essentially defeated Iran.”“Taken out their air force.”“Taken out their navy.”“No air defense whatsoever.”
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White HouseWIN CLAIM #11 / 42
“Overwhelming Success”
The White House calls the operation an “overwhelming success” and says Iran’s air and naval capabilities were “obliterated.”
Source: White House release ↗20
Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #12 / 42
Won — But Not Enough
Trump says, “We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough.”
Source: Reuters ↗Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #13 / 42
Winding-Down Statement
“Very close to meeting our objectives.”Considering “winding down.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #14 / 42
Airport Remarks
“Almost all points of agreement.”Meeting “very, very soon.”“End up with settling this.”“Something that’s going to happen.”
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U.S. and Iran
Ceasefire Proposal Rejected
Iran rejects a U.S. ceasefire proposal and issues a counterproposal as both sides dispute whether meaningful talks are even underway.
Source: Associated Press ↗26
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #15 / 42
Investment Summit Remarks
“Closer than ever.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #16 / 42
Air Force One Remarks
“The navy’s gone.”“The air force is gone.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #17 / 42
Truth Social Post
A deal would probably be “shortly reached.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #18 / 42
White House Remarks
“Leaving very soon.”“Two to three weeks.”
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April 2026
Claims, pauses, deals and breakdowns1
Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #19 / 42
Address to the Nation
“Swift, decisive, overwhelming victories.”“Iran’s navy is GONE.”“Their air force is in ruins.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #20 / 42
Ceasefire Statement
“Met and exceeded all Military objectives.”“Very far along” toward an agreement.“Almost all” points agreed.
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U.S. and Iran
Major Combat Pauses
After 38 days of major combat operations, a temporary ceasefire takes hold.
Source: White House release ↗Pete HegsethWIN CLAIM #21 / 42
“Decisive Military Victory”
Hegseth declares a decisive victory and says Iran’s military was “combat ineffective for years to come.”
Source: Pentagon transcript ↗White HouseWIN CLAIM #22 / 42
Navy “Obliterated”
The White House says Iran’s navy “has been obliterated” as it celebrates the ceasefire.
Source: White House release ↗9
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United States and Iran
Face-to-Face Talks Fail
Historic face-to-face talks in Islamabad end without an agreement. A U.S. blockade follows the next day.
Source: Associated Press timeline ↗Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #23 / 42
Joint Base Andrews Remarks
“Their military is destroyed.”“Their whole navy is underwater.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #24 / 42
South Lawn Remarks
“Very close to making a deal.”“Looking very good.”A “successful negotiation.”“Agreed to almost everything.”“We’ll have that over with.”“Very close to a deal.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #25 / 42
Truth Social — 6:27 a.m.
“This process should go very quickly.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #26 / 42
Truth Social — 7:13 a.m.
“Hormuz Strait situation is over.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #27 / 42
Truth Social — 7:33 a.m.
“A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #28 / 42
Truth Social — 7:58 a.m.
“JOB WELL DONE.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #29 / 42
Truth Social — 8:25 p.m.
“ANYONE SICK OF WINNING YET?”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #30 / 42
Turning Point Remarks
“This process should go very quickly.”Hormuz “almost over.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #31 / 42
Air Force One Remarks
“Some pretty good news.”Public would hear “very soon.”“Know very shortly.”
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Iran / Donald Trump
HORMUZ REOPENS #1
Iran announces the strait is fully open for passage. Trump declares it “completely open and ready for business.”
Source: American Presidency Project ↗18
Iran
HORMUZ CLOSED #2
One day after the reopening announcement, Iran warns mariners that the waterway is again closed.
Source: Reuters ↗19
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #32 / 42
CNBC Interview
“End up with a great deal.”
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May 2026
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #33 / 42
Departure Remarks
Iran had “no military left, essentially.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #34 / 42
Truth Social Post
“Tremendous Military Success.”“Great Progress.”Toward a “Complete and Final Agreement.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #35 / 42
Reflecting Pool Remarks
A deal “could happen any day.”“Knocked the hell out of them.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #36 / 42
Truth Social Post
A deal “will be made.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #37 / 42
White House Picnic
“Finished with that very quickly.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #38 / 42
Truth Social Post
Agreement “largely negotiated.”Deal to be “announced shortly.”
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June 2026
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #39 / 42
Executive Order Remarks
Negotiation “going very well.”Could happen “over the weekend.”
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Donald TrumpWIN CLAIM #40 / 42
White House Remarks
“Great settlement with Iran.”Signing “soon, very soon.”
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Donald Trump
A Deal Is Announced
Trump says a deal to end the war has been reached, although the agreement has not yet been finalized.
Source: Reuters ↗Donald Trump / administrationWIN CLAIM #41 / 42
Deal Reported Near
Agreement to end the war was “close.”
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United States and Iran
MOU Signed
A 14-point memorandum of understanding formalizes the ceasefire, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and begins a new diplomatic track.
Source: MOU text / reporting ↗United States and Iran
HORMUZ REOPENS #2
The 14-point MOU provides for reopening the strait; industry prepares for broader traffic to resume.
Source: MOU / Reuters ↗18
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Iran — disputed by U.S.
HORMUZ CLOSURE CLAIM #3
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declare the strait shut. U.S. officials dispute a complete closure and say some traffic continues.
Source: Reuters ↗21
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Trump administrationWIN CLAIM #42 / 42
Administration Policy Statement
The April hostilities had “terminated.”The MOU was “ending the fighting on every front.”
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United States and Iran
HORMUZ REOPENS #3
The two sides agree to stand down while technical talks continue, and a U.S. official says vessels can move freely.
Source: Reuters ↗29
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July 2026
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Donald Trump
Deal — Or “Finish the Job”
Trump says the United States will either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job.”
Source: Reuters ↗7
U.S. and Iran
MOU Breaks Down
Iranian attacks on merchant vessels and renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities end the ceasefire period and expose the MOU’s collapse.
Source: Associated Press ↗Renewed attacks
HORMUZ EFFECTIVELY CLOSED #4
Attacks on commercial vessels restart the conflict and begin a fourth effective closure period; traffic later slows to a trickle.
Source: Reuters ↗8
Donald Trump
Trump: Ceasefire Is “Over”
After the July 7 exchange of attacks, Trump declares the ceasefire “over,” while saying negotiations could still continue.
Source: Associated Press timeline ↗9
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U.S. Senate hearing
The Earlier Claim Is Challenged
Lawmakers confront Hegseth with his earlier “destroyed” and “combat-ineffective” claims while Iranian attacks and U.S. casualties continue.
Source: Associated Press ↗22
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