Kathmandu— Six months ago, joint strikes by the United States and Israel initiated a conflict with Iran. Over that period, US President Donald Trump posted at least 319 times mentioning Iran on Truth Social – roughly one every 14 hours – providing a unique record of how the war unfolded through his own words. An analysis of these posts reveals a narrative of announcements, military actions, claimed victories, negotiations, and renewed hostilities, all communicated directly to the public via social media.

Escalation To Conflict

In the weeks before February 28th, Trump’s posts regarding Iran blended threats with diplomatic overtures. He praised Iran for cancelling scheduled hangings and voiced support for anti-regime protesters while simultaneously threatening tariffs on nations conducting business with Iran, repeatedly urging Tehran to “MAKE A DEAL!”. The messaging then escalated with references to “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a military operation that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. On February 28th, at 1:35am Eastern Time, US Central Command announced the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, and less than an hour later, Trump posted an eight-minute video detailing the “major combat operations” in Iran.

Claims Of Victory And Blockade

Following the initial strikes, Trump repeatedly asserted success, claiming on March 14th that “We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability.” He detailed destruction of targets like Kharg Island and issued ultimatums regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Amidst these threats, he also attacked political opponents and media outlets. By April, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – dubbed “A WALL OF STEEL” – which became a central point of contention throughout the conflict. He maintained that Iran was losing $500m per day as a result of this blockade.

Negotiations And Shifting Terms

The war transitioned into a public negotiation in May and June, largely conducted through Trump’s Truth Social posts. He announced cancelled attacks at the request of Gulf leaders and participated in negotiations with officials from multiple countries, though Israel was notably absent from some discussions. A Memorandum of Understanding on peace was reached in mid-June, but quickly began to unravel as reports surfaced of Iranian drone attacks on ships in the Strait. Trump responded by authorizing strikes on Iranian missile stores, warning that Iran would “no longer exist” if further violations occurred.

Renewed Hostilities And Economic Warfare

Throughout July and August, the conflict continued to fluctuate between ceasefire agreements and renewed military actions. Trump repeatedly declared ceasefires “OVER” and reinstated the naval blockade. He also implemented a policy of retaliating against Iranian attacks by destroying infrastructure like bridges and power plants. In August, he claimed victory in the war and announced plans for “the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY,” threatening financial repercussions for any nation supporting Iran.

A War Documented Online

Across 32,478 words, Trump’s Truth Social posts provide a unique and detailed account of the six-month conflict. The analysis reveals a pattern of announcements, military actions, negotiations, and threats, all communicated directly to the public through his social media platform. His frequent self-references and attacks on opponents are also prominent features of this digital record.

As of August 25th, the situation remains volatile with the memorandum of understanding expired and Trump threatening further economic measures against Iran and its supporters.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.