What's going on: It’s been a hell of a weekend. On Friday, Iran shot down a fighter jet carrying two pilots after it entered deep into Iranian airspace. Hours later, US forces managed to rescue one of the pilots. The other? He was missing. The CIA and US military launched a multi-day, high-stakes operation to reach the downed pilot before Iranian forces did. The US found him first. Around the same time, Iranian forces hit a second US warplane. (Its pilot ejected safely into Kuwait.) The attacks mark the first time Iran has shot down US combat planes since the war started five weeks ago. President Donald Trump celebrated the rescue mission on social media, but that’s not all he posted.
What did he say?: Trump’s messaging on the war and his timeline remain inconsistent. Yesterday was no exception. He told Fox News the US could reach a deal with Iran as soon as today. Hours later, he posted an expletive-laden ultimatum and threatened to destroy Tehran’s infrastructure if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday at 8 pm ET. Experts are split about why. Some say the successful rescue mission may have emboldened him, and others say he’s putting on the pressure. Critics warn his threats to send Iran “back to the Stone Ages” could amount to war crimes if carried out. As for Iran, it says it didn’t pick this fight, and the US can’t set its own timeline. Tehran continues to target economic and infrastructure sites in nearby Gulf countries and is threatening to close another major strait. Who knows what could happen after Trump’s press conference this afternoon...
