US President Donald Trump has escalated his military threats against Iran, declaring the country 'finished' while signaling that military action could intensify in the coming hours. Speaking to Fox News, Trump warned 'There will be bigger bombing tonight,' indicating that any fresh strikes would be more powerful than previous operations. The President reiterated his long-standing position that Iran must never be allowed to acquire or develop a nuclear weapon, describing that objective as non-negotiable. However, Trump stressed that he does not want to commit ground troops to the conflict, stating 'I don't want boots on the ground.' According to Fox News, Trump also indicated he would prefer to avoid targeting key civilian infrastructure, suggesting a desire to limit broader damage despite escalating pressure on Tehran.
The conflict has intensified with US President Donald Trump hinting at new strikes on Iranian critical infrastructure, warning that military force remains an option as diplomatic efforts continue to stall. According to Fox News, Trump told reporters that he was 'thinking about launching more assaults against Iranian infrastructure' and added 'I may keep going. They had a chance to sign a deal and survive.' The latest escalation came after US forces launched strikes on Tehran following the downing of an Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with an Iranian drone. A drone boat rescued both of the helicopter's crew, who were unharmed, with Trump noting this was 'the first time in US military history, by an unmanned sea drone'. The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters, according to Central Command. Iran retaliated by attacking US-affiliated military locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan with missiles and drones, with Jordan claiming to have intercepted many missiles en route to the al-Azraq military base after regional air defence systems were triggered.
A dramatic exchange occurred as US President Donald Trump claimed he had spoken directly with Iranian officials who asked him 'to stop bombing,' even as Iran flatly denied any such contact. According to Tasnim news agency, Tehran denied that Trump had spoken with any senior Iranian leaders to 'end tonight's bombing' or that any message exchange regarding a ceasefire had taken place, calling the claim 'pure falsehood.' Iranian officials said the country was 'currently delivering a decisive response to the US attacks' and moved swiftly to reject Trump's assertions. The denial came as Iranian state and semi-official media reported a dramatic escalation, with Tehran ordering the complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and warning that any vessel attempting to transit the waterway would be attacked.
Iran's military authorities have implemented comprehensive measures to control the Strait of Hormuz following the latest US operations. As reported by Mehr news agency, Iran's top joint military command instructed the closure of the strait to all maritime traffic, including commercial ships and oil tankers. Tasnim quoted Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command as stating 'any vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted' and that the route was 'completely closed to all types of vessel' following the latest round of US operations. Iranian naval authorities confirmed that 'two ships attempting to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz were hit,' demonstrating the severity of Tehran's response to the US military actions. The latest developments show Iranian media reporting explosions in southern parts of the country near the Strait of Hormuz, including in Qeshm, Kargan and Sirik, with earlier rounds of strikes having targeted radar installations, air defence systems and other military infrastructure.
Despite the escalating tensions, diplomatic efforts continue with Qatari negotiators traveling to Tehran on Wednesday morning in an effort to finalize an agreement, according to an official with knowledge of the situation cited by Reuters. However, Trump has repeatedly threatened to walk away from the talks, with his latest statements suggesting the diplomatic process is under increased pressure due to the resumed violence. The US wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful but is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. Iran also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump. Tehran has continued to insist that any agreement to end the war must also halt fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel, while Israel has intensified its military campaign against the militant group. Israel's military said on Wednesday it launched multiple strikes in southern Lebanon over the past day, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, with an airstrike on a village east of Tyre killing at least six people, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
