Donald Trump is looking for someone from his circle to become a "scapegoat" and pass on the responsibility for the failure to end the war in Iran, the Atlantic writes. The US president believes that the war with Iran is at least partly to blame for his political difficulties. Now, sources say, he is looking for a scapegoat, focusing on those who convinced him that the military campaign would be swift and decisive. According to The Atlantic, Trump has already asked his allies for evaluations of the work of Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain. Both were key advisers to the president on the issue of the war with Iran and expressed early optimism about its prospects. Some close to Trump suggest the war secretary presented the war in too optimistic terms to please the president. "Hagasth has a knack for telling the president what he wants to hear," said one of Trump's outside advisers. Current and former defense officials say the president has several options: order attacks that last hours to weeks, maintain a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to threaten the resumption of hostilities, or abandon further escalation. One scenario involves a multi-day military campaign against Iran's nuclear program. Some members of Trump's inner circle hope that even the threat of new strikes can get Tehran to return to negotiations. However, Trump has not yet given an order to resume the attacks. If he does make such a decision, he will probably keep it a secret until the very last moment, the Atlantic writes. Donald Trump in Russian.

Donald Trump is looking for someone from his circle to become a "scapegoat" and pass on the responsibility for the failure to end the war in Iran, the Atlantic writes. The US president believes that the war with Iran is at least partly to blame for his political difficulties. Now, sources say, he is looking for a scapegoat, focusing on those who convinced him that the military campaign would be swift and decisive. According to The Atlantic, Trump has already asked his allies for evaluations of the work of Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain. Both were key advisers to the president on the issue of the war with Iran and expressed early optimism about its prospects. Some close to Trump suggest the war secretary presented the war in too optimistic terms to please the president. "Hagasth has a knack for telling the president what he wants to hear," said one of Trump's outside advisers. Current and former defense officials say the president has several options: order attacks that last hours to weeks, maintain a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to threaten the resumption of hostilities, or abandon further escalation. One scenario involves a multi-day military campaign against Iran's nuclear program. Some members of Trump's inner circle hope that even the threat of new strikes can get Tehran to return to negotiations. However, Trump has not yet given an order to resume the attacks. If he does make such a decision, he will probably keep it a secret until the very last moment, the Atlantic writes. Donald Trump in Russian.