US and Iran Exchange Threats of Escalation

US President Donald Trump said the United States will "probably" carry out more strikes on Iran later Wednesday, warning Washington was prepared to hit even deeper and could take over Kharg Island if needed. "They are behaving very badly, as they have for 47 years," Trump told reporters in Ankara ahead of the NATO summit. "We hit them hard last night after they launched drones and a missile at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Probably hit them again tonight." Trump said US forces had targeted drones, missiles, coastal defense sites, radar and surveillance systems. "Anything they thought they had rebuilt or capability they were using was a target last night. Tonight, if we need to... we will hit even more and even deeper." He also said the US had struck Iran's electricity infrastructure. "We hit their electricity. We hit the things they need to operate," he said, adding that more infrastructure could be targeted if Iran continued its actions. Trump also said Washington could reimpose a naval blockade and "may take over Kharg Island."

Trump says Iran deal 'over'

Trump said the United States might abandon efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, saying it could achieve its objectives without one. "I don't know if we're going to have a deal. We may just do it without a deal, because you know what, it's easier." He called Iran's leaders "liars and cheats" and accused them of reneging on commitments. "They'll never build a nuclear weapon under our deal," he said. "But I don't know if we're going to have a deal." Trump also criticised former President Barack Obama's nuclear agreement, calling it "one of the worst tragedies" in the Middle East. "Our deal is a wall to a nuclear weapon. His deal was a road to a nuclear weapon." Trump said he remained Tehran's "number one target." "They had leaders, they're gone... Now they have another set of leaders. They may be gone. And you know what, I may be gone too, because I'm their number one target." Trump said he did not think full-fledged conflict would resume. "I don't think it's going to start again. I think it's going to go very quickly. They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder. Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly."

Iran’s response

Iran's foreign minister and other officials have issued a series of sharp responses to President Donald Trump's threats at the NATO summit in Ankara, with Tehran vowing action and warning US soldiers they would not return alive. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X: "We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valor." Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran must speak to Trump "in his own language" because he understands the "language of force" better. Parliament spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei warned US military personnel after Trump threatened to invade Kharg Island: "Not even a single American soldier will return alive. Come on, we're waiting for you." The responses came after Trump said the US "may take over Kharg Island," warned of more strikes and declared the Iran deal "over."