Iran threatens Trump as Israel hits IRGC weapons hub in Tehran: What to know
US officials have vowed to escalate the campaign against Iran while Gulf states reported a barrage of attacks targeting their territory.
US officials vowed Tuesday to escalate the bombing campaign against Iran after a senior Iranian official issued a threat against President Donald Trump. The sharp rhetoric comes as Israel and the US continued to pummel regime targets on Tuesday and tanker traffic steeply declines through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.
War of words
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would mark the “most intense day” of American strikes on Iran since the war began, featuring “the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes.”
However, even as the campaign intensifies, Trump signaled he may be open to diplomacy. In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, he said, “I’m hearing they want to talk badly.” He described renewed talks as “possible,” but added he is “not happy” with Iran’s choice of new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was selected Sunday to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the war. Trump had previously demanded a say in who assumes the role.
