IRAN WAR LATEST: Wasn't this about regime change? US President Donald Trump hints aims nearly completed while Islamic Republic remains - strikes on Diego Garcia as Putin voices support for Iran

US President Donald Trump has signalled that Washington may soon begin winding down its war with Iran, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for Tehran and tensions escalated with a reported missile attack on a key UK-US military base.

Posting on Truth Social on March 20, as the conflict entered its fourth week, Trump said the United States was “getting very close to meeting our objectives” in its military campaign against Iran. He outlined those objectives as dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, destroying its defence industrial base, eliminating its navy and air force, preventing any nuclear weapons capability, and protecting US allies in the Middle East.

Trump also suggested a reduced long-term US role in the region, stating that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz should ultimately be policed by other nations, though the US would assist if necessary. His comments mark a notable shift from earlier suggestions that Washington might pursue regime change in Iran.

Despite this apparent move toward de-escalation, hostilities have continued. Overnight, Iran fired at least two ballistic missiles at the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal and Iran’s Mehr news agency. Neither missile hit the base, but the strike is significant as it marks Iran’s first reported use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles since the war began.

The attack followed the UK government’s decision to allow the US to use British bases, including Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford, for “collective self-defence.” The move effectively authorises US forces to launch strikes on Iranian targets linked to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has since warned that British lives could be at risk.

Military analysts note several concerns arising from the missile launch. The distance involved—over 2,000 miles from Iran to Diego Garcia—demonstrates Tehran’s continued long-range strike capability. There are also fears about risks to civilian aviation, as commercial flights are rerouted through airspace potentially intersecting with missile trajectories. Additionally, any multinational effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz could expose participating countries to retaliation, including asymmetric threats such as sleeper cells.

Meanwhile, US and Israeli forces have continued targeting Iranian infrastructure. Iranian state media reported fresh strikes on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, though authorities said there was no radioactive leakage and no danger to nearby residents. The site has been hit multiple times during the conflict, with satellite imagery previously showing damage.

Trump has repeatedly emphasised that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons remains a central objective of the war.

On the diplomatic front, Putin has voiced support for Iran’s leadership. In a Kremlin statement marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, he congratulated Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing confidence that the Iranian people would endure current hardships and stressing that Moscow remains a “loyal friend and reliable partner” of Tehran.

The stance contrasts with earlier Kremlin denials of expanded military cooperation with Iran, dismissed as “disinformation.” Although Putin recently held a phone call with Trump—described by the US president as “very good”—Trump later suggested that Russia “might be helping [Iran] a little bit.”

Elsewhere in the region, Israel reported strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, with the Lebanese government saying more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks.

Economic impacts from the conflict remain significant. Oil prices surged to $119 per barrel of Brent crude earlier in the week before easing to around $107, still well above the pre-war level of roughly $72. In response to market pressures, the US has temporarily lifted some sanctions on Iranian oil. The Treasury Department said the 30-day measure would allow the sale of stranded Iranian crude, potentially releasing around 140 million barrels onto global markets to stabilise supply.

Despite Trump’s suggestion that the war could soon be scaled back, the latest developments underline the continued volatility of the conflict, with active military operations, regional spillover risks, and shifting alliances all still in play.