President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning to Iran on Tuesday, declaring that the latest round of U.S. military strikes would pale in comparison to the response Tehran could face if it retaliates against America.
The president delivered the warning in a Truth Social post shortly after U.S. Central Command announced that the military had conducted airstrikes against Iranian targets.
“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,” Trump wrote.
The president added that even such a response would not represent the full extent of the military action he is prepared to order.
“But it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!” Trump continued.
Trump said American forces were carrying out the strikes “as we speak,” targeting areas near the Strait of Hormuz with what he described as “large and powerful” attacks.
According to the president, the military action was retaliation for Iran’s attempted placement of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and its launch of eight missiles at an American military base in Jordan.
Trump said Iran had failed to add mines to the strait, asserting that the area currently contained no mines because they had either been removed or detonated. He also said all eight Iranian missiles fired toward the U.S. base were successfully intercepted.
The missile attack occurred at dawn Monday. Trump soon vowed that the United States would strike Iran “hard” in response.
Later Monday, the president criticized a reporter who asked whether he had ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran.
“I would never say that, but yes, there’s no reason for it,” Trump responded. “What a stupid question that is, actually.”
Trump argued that Iran had already been defeated militarily and questioned why the United States would need to use a nuclear weapon against the country.
“Here they are, they’re totally defeated militarily,” Trump said. “So now I defeat ’em and now I should use a nuclear weapon on top of ’em? What a stupid question!”
The latest developments came after the United States resumed strikes against Iran on Sunday, marking the first such attacks in several weeks.
Those strikes coincided with a Washington Post report that top military generals had recently warned Pete Hegseth about extending the war.
Trump, however, told Fox News on Sunday that he had no choice but to launch Operation Epic Fury because Iran was close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The president said Iran’s theocratic leadership would have used that weapon against Israel if given the opportunity.
“We would probably be next,” Trump added.
Trump’s Tuesday statement left Iran with a stark warning: Any retaliation for the latest American airstrikes would trigger a substantially larger U.S. response, while an even more devastating attack remained “waiting in the wings.”
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