President Trump Vows Continued War On Iran, U.S. Says Over 5,000 Targets Hit

President Trump has publicly framed the conflict as one he will help decide the end of, signaling continued U.S. involvement and a vow to press Iran decisively.

“• Mixed messages: President Trump gave conflicting replies on when the war will end”

CNN International

CNN records his comment that he and Israel will determine “when the war will end,” while U.S. officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke of setting “the terms of surrender.”

CNN International

Trump’s prior statements about the post-war map underscored a readiness to reshape outcomes, and the article frames these remarks as part of a U.S.-led posture that leaves little room for negotiation while military action continues.

Iranian officials responded defiantly and sought to frame their actions as defensive and constrained.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said “there is little room to talk about anything other than a decisive response,” and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told CNN Tehran had accepted a ceasefire last June but now insisted on a permanent end to war.

CNN International

The Iranian government also denied strikes on neighbouring states in statements cited by CNN, with Baghaei stressing Iran had not fired missiles toward Turkey or Azerbaijan and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian issuing an apology to neighbours while warning against foreign interference.

The conflict is drawing regional and great-power alignment and causing economic fallout.

“• Mixed messages: President Trump gave conflicting replies on when the war will end”

CNN International

CNN reports Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and reiterated Moscow’s “continued support for Tehran.”

The article also cites U.S. intelligence-based reporting that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on American forces, and notes market fallout — oil passing $100 a barrel and Gulf operators declaring force majeure as attacks threatened infrastructure.

CNN documents serious civilian harm and contested accounts around incidents that fuel international condemnation.

The network cites video and state media claims that a strike near an IRGC naval base and adjacent elementary school in Minab killed “more than 160 students” on February 28.

CNN International

CNN notes independent analyses and U.S. lawmakers urging a full, impartial review because some investigations indicate US forces may have been responsible, and it records casualties inside Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles with quotes from Israeli emergency services.

On the specific claim in your title that the U.S. said it hit “over 5,000 targets,” the provided CNN article does not report or substantiate that figure.

“• Mixed messages: President Trump gave conflicting replies on when the war will end”

CNN International

Instead, the article focuses on leadership statements, strikes and investigations, Russian involvement, regional impacts and casualties.

CNN International

Because the only source supplied is the CNN piece and it contains detailed reporting on many points but not the “5,000 targets” claim, I cannot verify or attribute that number from these sources; the article therefore leaves that claim unconfirmed in the material provided.