President Trump uses profanity in Oval Office over Iran war

President Donald Trump's escalating frustration with the ongoing war in Iran erupted in a profane outburst in the Oval Office, according to accounts from those who heard the exchange. The president, who once predicted the conflict would conclude in weeks, reportedly called Iranian leaders "scumbags" and "lunatics" during a late-night meeting on July 23 as the war nears its fifth month with no clear resolution.

The conflict, launched alongside Israel in late February without congressional approval, has intensified recently, with U.S. forces conducting airstrikes for 13 consecutive nights as of July 24. The fighting has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 U.S. service members and driven global oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude breaching $100 a barrel. Repeated diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities have collapsed, including a memorandum of understanding signed in June that lasted only a matter of weeks.

Administration officials describe the president as being in "revenge mode" against Tehran, convinced that military force is the only language Iran understands. This posture was echoed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who stated Iran was "paying in...