Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran could face devastating military action as the U.S.-led campaign against the country entered its second week.
In a message posted on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump signaled that additional targets inside Iran were being reviewed as part of the ongoing U.S. military operation known as Operation Epic Fury.
“Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time,” Trump wrote.
The warning comes amid intensifying regional fallout from joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian military assets earlier this month. The campaign has triggered retaliatory attacks and raised concerns across several Gulf states.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s influence in the region had weakened significantly following the military pressure. Referring to Iran’s leadership, he said the country was no longer acting as the “Bully of the Middle East.”
According to the president, Tehran had already backed down from earlier threats toward its neighbors after sustained attacks by the United States and Israel.
“Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,” Trump said.
He further argued that Iran had ambitions to dominate the region before the current conflict intensified.
“They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern Countries. They have said, ‘Thank you President Trump.’ I have said, ‘You’re welcome!’”
Meanwhile, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, issued a pre-recorded message acknowledging the broader regional impact of Iran’s retaliatory actions. The Iranian leader apologized for strikes that had affected neighboring countries following the joint U.S.–Israel offensive.
While defending Iran’s right to protect itself, Pezeshkian indicated Tehran would halt attacks on nearby states if they refrained from participating in further strikes.
The Iranian president said the country retains the right to “take all necessary measures” to defend itself but pledged that Iran would stop targeting its neighbors so long as they did not launch additional attacks.
Despite that statement, military activity across the region continued early Saturday. Iran launched multiple missiles, according to regional defense officials.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for one of the attacks, saying it had targeted a U.S. air warfare center located at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Air defense forces across the Gulf responded quickly. Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones within their airspace.
Further disruptions were reported in the United Arab Emirates after explosions were heard near Dubai. In response, Emirates Airlines temporarily suspended all flights to and from the city as a precaution.
Trump had already indicated Friday that the conflict could continue unless Iran accepted strict conditions.
“There will be no peace until Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender,’” he vowed.
Pezeshkian pushed back against that demand in his address, dismissing the possibility that Tehran would capitulate.
“That’s a dream that they should take to their grave,” he said during his address.
This is a developing story…
