Trump’s threats to expand Iran strikes come as concerns over transparency escalate

Published July 24, 2026 5:33pm ET | Updated July 24, 2026 5:33pm ET



Two weeks after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran dramatically collapsed, U.S. Central Command continues to announce daily bombing attacks designed to target Tehran’s ability to target commercial shipping in the waterways off its coast.

President Donald Trump has continued to talk openly this week about escalating the war by broadening the strikes to hit Iranian infrastructure and suspected nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain. But the escalation comes as concerns grow over transparency over the war, highlighted by a dispute over the number of military service members killed, the scale of damage suffered during Iranian attacks, and the amount of money the war is costing the American taxpayer.

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