Trump Acknowledges War Death Risk

The recent U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, have included strikes against leadership, security forces, and nuclear and missile sites. These attacks resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran has launched hundreds of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. military bases, and several Arab states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The conflict has resulted in at least six U.S. troop deaths and over 1,200 fatalities in Iran. The "deal" Trump referenced relates to nuclear negotiations that resumed in February 2026 with Oman as a mediator. While Omani officials reported "substantial progress," disagreements persisted over Iran's uranium enrichment and ballistic missile program, with Trump stating he was "not happy" with the talks just before the strikes began. The call for a pardon for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stems from his ongoing corruption trial, which started in 2020 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog in November 2025, a move Herzog's office termed "extraordinary." To bypass the now-treacherous Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has begun offering customers the option to load crude from its Red Sea port of Yanbu. This is made possible by the East-West pipeline, which has the capacity to move up to 7 million barrels of crude per day. The Red Sea shipping route faces renewed threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen. After a pause in attacks following a Gaza ceasefire in late 2025, the group has signaled it will resume targeting vessels in response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes on its ally, Iran.