US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States is preparing for another round of military strikes against Iran, warning that Tehran could face attacks on its civilian infrastructure if hostilities continue. The fresh escalation threat from Trump came after he announced the ceasefire with Iran is over following a series of strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and on American bases in the Gulf.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the US had carried out heavy strikes on Iran the previous night and indicated that further military action was likely.
"We hit them very hard last night. We'll probably hit them hard again tonight," Trump said, accusing Iran of launching drones and a missile at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. He described the strikes as retaliation for attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway.
Iran issues 'immediate response' warning
Senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati blamed the US for the renewed hostilities in the Gulf region, accusing Trump of pushing the region back toward conflict by abandoning the memorandum of understanding.
In a post on X, Velayati said Trump's "verbal admission" of cancelling the agreement had "once again driven the region towards fire."
He also warned that the region was not a place for "the political gambling of small countries" and said Iran had repeatedly demonstrated that any acts of aggression would be met with an immediate response.
"We had previously warned that the region is not a place for the political gambling of small countries, and we have repeatedly proven that adventures are met with an immediate response," he wrote.
"AxisOfResistance does not remain silent against humiliation and adventurism and, by demanding the blood of #MartyrLeader to cleanse the region, has its finger on the trigger," he added.
Will US hit Iran's civilian infrastructure?
Trump also threatened to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, including its electricity generation and desalination plants, if the conflict escalates further.
In addition, he warned that the US could seize Kharg Island, a key hub for Iran's oil exports. While he said earlier strikes had targeted the island, he claimed its oil facilities were not hit.
"Maybe we'll take over Kharg Island. We may take over Kharg Island. There's not a thing they could do about it," Trump said.
The remarks came just hours after Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran had effectively collapsed, raising fears of a renewed escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Global concerns over conflict resumption
Fresh exchanges of fire have raised concerns that the conflict with Iran could reignite, with Trump declaring that the ceasefire is effectively "over," even as he said negotiations would be allowed to continue.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believed the truce had run its course. "For me, I think it's over," he said, adding that while US representatives could continue talks with Iran, he was sceptical about their success. "They can talk, but I think they're wasting their time," he remarked.
Trump's comments heightened uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire, sending oil prices higher amid fears that renewed fighting could disrupt global energy supplies. Any escalation could again threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for international oil and fuel exports.
The US president also repeated his earlier threat to seize Kharg Island, through which around 90% of Iran's oil exports pass, calling it a strategic target if the conflict escalates.
The latest attacks on commercial shipping despite ongoing diplomatic efforts may reflect divisions within Iran's leadership. While hardliners are believed to favour maintaining pressure through control of the Strait of Hormuz, more pragmatic factions are reportedly seeking a lasting peace agreement to ease international sanctions and revive the country's economy.
Formal negotiations on a long-term settlement were expected to begin after the conclusion of the funeral ceremonies for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the outset of the conflict. The mourning period, ending Thursday, had been expected to provide a temporary pause in hostilities.
