Trump was warned of likely Iranian retaliation on Gulf allies, sources say

President Donald Trump was informed that a strike on Iran could lead to retaliatory actions against U.S. allies in the Gulf, despite his statements on Monday claiming that Tehran's response was unexpected. This information comes from a U.S. official and two sources who are knowledgeable about U.S. intelligence assessments. One source, who asked to remain anonymous, noted that while the pre-war intelligence did not guarantee Iran’s response, it was certainly considered a possible outcome. On Monday, Trump mentioned twice that Iran’s attacks on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait took him by surprise. He first made this remark during a board meeting at the Kennedy Center in the White House, stating, “They (Iran) weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East. Nobody expected that. We were shocked.” Trump’s comments followed other claims from his administration that lack support from U.S. intelligence, including assertions that Iran would soon possess a missile capable of reaching the U.S. and that it could produce a nuclear bomb in two to four weeks and use it. These claims, along with the perceived threat from Iran to the U.S. and its forces in the region, have been cited by Trump and some senior aides as reasons for joining Israel in initiating airstrikes against Iran on February 28. Additionally, Trump received a briefing before the military operation indicating that Iran would likely attempt to close the crucial Strait of Hormuz. This information comes from two other sources familiar with the situation. In recent weeks, Iranian drones and missiles have targeted Gulf states, hitting U.S. military bases, an Emirates base with French troops, as well as civilian sites like hotels, airports, and energy facilities. Iran has also nearly halted all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for 20% of the world's oil supply, leading to a surge in global energy prices.