Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani on Tuesday issued a sharp warning to US President Donald Trump, escalating the war of words between Washington and Tehran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
In a post on X, Larijani cautioned Trump against threatening Iran, saying the country could not be defeated by outside powers. “Even those greater than you could not eliminate Iran. Watch out for yourself, lest you be eliminated,” he wrote.
The message came after Trump made a series of strong remarks against Iran and its new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. In a post on Truth Social, the US president warned that Iran would face retaliation “twenty times harder” than previous strikes if it attempted to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said such action could bring devastating consequences for the Islamic Republic. “Death, fire and fury will reign upon them — but I hope and pray that it does not happen,” he wrote.
He also criticised Iran’s choice of leadership after Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was elevated to the country’s top position. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he was “not happy” with the decision and suggested the new leader would struggle to “live in peace”.
The tensions follow the conflict triggered after US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that killed Iran’s supreme leader and sparked a wider regional confrontation. Since then, Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks across the Middle East.
Tehran has also threatened to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical maritime corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes — raising fears of disruptions to global energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Iran continued launching attacks on Tuesday targeting Israel and several Gulf countries. Authorities in Manama said an Iranian strike hit a residential building, killing a 29-year-old woman and injuring eight others.
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting two drones over its oil-rich eastern region, while Kuwait’s National Guard said it shot down six drones. In the United Arab Emirates, firefighters battled a blaze in the industrial city of Ruwais after a drone strike, though no injuries were reported.
Air raid sirens also sounded in Jerusalem, and explosions were heard in Tel Aviv as Israel’s air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. The escalating attacks have rattled markets and raised concerns that the conflict could widen further across the region.
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