US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face further military strikes after Washington and Tehran exchanged direct attacks for the first time in about a month, escalating tensions in a conflict that had recently centred largely on economic pressure.
Iran fired missiles overnight at two US military bases in Jordan, according to reports, in retaliation for a US strike on Larak Island. Washington said its forces targeted Iranian launchers that were preparing to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest exchange showed how quickly the conflict can shift back from sanctions, blockades and economic measures to military confrontation. Although neither side appeared to be seeking a return to a full-scale war, both indicated they were prepared to respond if attacked again.
“We’re going to hit them hard,” Trump was quoted by Fox News as saying. “There will be a response.”
Speaking separately to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said the renewed strikes did not necessarily mean the conflict was returning to full-scale war. He described Iran as a “failed nation” and claimed its military and economy had been severely weakened.
When asked whether he had ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, Trump said there was “no reason” to do so, arguing that Iran had already been “totally defeated militarily”.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the latest exchanges, the first since late July, amounted to a “limited and contained confrontation”. However, the source warned that Tehran would respond harshly if Iran came under another attack.
Trump also claimed that US air defences had intercepted all Iranian missiles capable of causing damage. He added that Washington’s latest economic sanctions against Tehran were having a significant impact.
Earlier, Trump posted two videos on social media showing explosions allegedly destroying Iran’s main oil export terminal on Kharg Island, accompanied by a message claiming the island had been blown “to smithereens”.
However, the footage was AI-generated and did not depict an actual US attack on Kharg Island. Iran dismissed the post as “laughable”, while Vice President JD Vance said Trump was using social media to send a message to Tehran.
Washington has so far avoided directly targeting Iran’s major oil and gas infrastructure, despite increasing economic pressure. Tehran has warned that such attacks could trigger devastating strikes against US allies in the Gulf.
