Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran After US-Iran Forces Trade Fire, Vows to ‘Hit Them Hard’

US President Donald Trump has sharply escalated his rhetoric against Iran, calling the country a “failed nation” and warning Tehran of a forceful response after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire for the first time in a month.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that “Iran is officially a Failed Nation” before adding in capital letters, “IT IS DEAD!” He claimed Iran had no navy, air force or functioning currency and alleged that the government was unable to pay its soldiers and police. Trump also claimed Iran’s inflation had reached 300% and described its leadership as being in “total disarray”.

Trump accused Iranian authorities of carrying out a deadly crackdown on protesters and alleged that more than 100,000 people had been killed. He said those responsible should be held accountable and “must be tried for war crimes against humanity”.

The US President also lashed out at what he called “FAKE NEWS from the USA” and criticised Iran’s response to the growing confrontation with Washington.

Trump Vows Retaliation

Trump separately warned that the US would respond forcefully to an overnight attack targeting American forces.

“We’re going to hit them hard,” he told Fox News.

The warning followed the first direct exchange of fire between US and Iranian forces in about a month. American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers, while Iran responded by firing missiles towards Jordan. The latest confrontation has renewed fears of a wider escalation between Washington and Tehran after weeks without direct military exchanges.

US Strikes Iranian Launchers

US Central Command said American forces targeted Iranian launchers on Sunday as they attempted to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came amid heightened tensions around the strategic waterway, which is vital to global energy and commercial shipping.

A person familiar with the incident said all the Iranian missiles launched in retaliation were intercepted. The latest exchange came after the US strikes on the Iranian launchers and Iran’s subsequent missile launches towards Jordan. Trump’s latest warning indicates that Washington could take further military action as tensions with Tehran continue to rise.