Trump: Iran conflict 'will not be very much longer'

US President Donald Trump appeared on Wednesday to be contemplating the possibility of the CIA arming Iranians in an attempt to incite a violent uprising against the Iranian government. This potential move came in response to a question posed by a reporter during an unscheduled press session at the White House, following a series of US strikes on Iran's southern coast that resulted in 18 casualties, including two children attending a wedding.

Trump initially declined to comment on the feasibility of such an operation, stating that it would not be appropriate to say whether or not he would greenlight the CIA to arm Iranians. However, he did express his sympathy for the plight of the Iranian people, noting that over 65,000 protesters had been killed during the anti-government demonstrations earlier this year.

He acknowledged that Iran's regime was becoming weaker by the day, citing the US attacks on Iranian military installations and infrastructure, as well as Iran's retaliation against US military bases in the region.

The situation had become increasingly tense, with Iran retaliating against US military facilities across the region through missile and drone strikes. In response to these actions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States' right to take military action when necessary, emphasizing that Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz was coming to an end.

Trump himself had suggested that the waterway could now be referred to as the "Trump Strait," reflecting the US administration's growing influence over the strategically important region.