Trump Hints at Fresh US Strikes on Iran, Warns ‘We’ll Hit Them Hard’
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signalled the possibility of fresh military action against Iran, warning that American forces could launch new strikes as early as tonight if Tehran continues what he described as violations of a temporary ceasefire agreement.
Speaking during the NATO summit, Trump accused Iran of attacking ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and said Tehran had failed to honour its commitment to halt its nuclear programme.
“I’m not happy with what the Iranians are doing. This isn’t about regime change—we simply cannot allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
He claimed Iranian strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz breached the agreement reached to pause hostilities.
“Our agreement with Iran was clear—they stop their nuclear programme, or we’ll stop it ourselves,” he added.
‘We’ll Hit Them Hard’
Trump revealed that US forces had destroyed 28 Iranian boats overnight and warned that further military action remained on the table.
“We destroyed 28 Iranian boats last night. We may hit more of them tonight. If necessary, we’ll hit them hard,” he said. While indicating the US could target Iran’s critical infrastructure, Trump said Washington was exercising restraint for now.
“We could take out their power stations and water facilities if we have to. I don’t want to do that, but we will if it’s necessary,” he said.
Kharg Island Warning
The US president also suggested Washington could target—or even seize—Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal that handles the bulk of the country’s crude exports.
Trump claimed US strikes had already damaged part of the island but said he had deliberately avoided attacking Iran’s oil facilities.
“We attacked Kharg Island last night—we knocked out a piece. I told them, ‘Don’t touch the oil,’ because maybe we’ll take over Kharg Island. We may take over Kharg Island. There’s not a thing they can do about it,” he said.
Ceasefire Under Strain
Earlier in the day, Trump declared that the ceasefire understanding with Iran was effectively over, though he indicated that diplomatic talks could still resume.
Tensions have risen sharply after Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime oil routes. Tehran has insisted on controlling traffic through the waterway and has warned vessels against deviating from routes authorised by Iranian authorities.
The latest exchange comes amid escalating hostilities that began with large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier this year, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as both sides continue to exchange military threats.
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