Trump threatens Iran with 'biggest attack of them all' amid escalating Strait of Hormuz strikes

Donald Trump has threatened Tehran with “the biggest attack of them all” after the US launched fresh strikes in Iran on Tuesday.

Several explosions have been heard along the Strait of Hormuz, which come in retaliation for Iranian attacks on shipping and American service members in the Middle East, the US military said.

Iran has since responded by firing drones and missiles, telling the US that “severe punishment awaits the aggressors”.

It comes after President Trump warned Iran not to hit back at its “large and powerful” strikes, saying the US “will be hit again at a much harder and higher level.

“It will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.

The US fired rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday in the first clash in more than a month, causing Iran to retaliate by launching ballistic missiles at American bases in Jordan.

On Monday, President Trump said more strikes might be necessary, telling reporters: “We’ll see what happens.”

Tehran responds to US strikes with drones and missiles

Iran has said it is firing drones and missiles in response to US strikes, local media reported.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebi earlier warned that “severe punishment awaits the aggressors, and America will regret its new attacks.”

It also comes after Donald Trump threatened Iran against retaliating, saying it would hit with “harder and higher level” strikes.

He told Fox News that Iran would be “wiped out” if it responded.

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 20:20

Iran will be 'wiped out' if it responds to attacks

Donald Trump said Iran would be “wiped out” if it retaliated to strikes the US unleashed along the Strait of Hormuz today.

“This is a very big hit today. If it goes a third time, they’re going to be totally wiped out as a country,” he said.

“I think an agreement with them isn't worth the paper it's written on.

“We gave them a lot of chances.”

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 20:16

Trump considering new strikes to stop Strait of Hormuz attacks as president threatens to ‘smack’ Tehran

Donald Trump is considering a new wave of strikes against Iran amid growing concern that Tehran has rebuilt its military capacity, as both sides traded direct fire for the first time in a month.

Three US officials told Axios that the president is weighing limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to stop Tehran from reconstituting its radar and missile capabilities used to attack ships.

One of the officials framed the plan as “mow[ing] the lawn” to reduce the risk of Iranian attacks on traffic in the waterway, following a recent missile launch targeting an American F-35 fighter jet providing cover to ships.

Read our full story below.

Trump considering new wave of strikes to stop Strait of Hormuz attacks

The US and Iran have not held peace talks in weeks after an interim agreement collapsed

Daniel Keane1 September 2026 20:00

US says attacks aimed at preventing new mines in Hormuz

Donald Trumps has said that its recent attacks on Iranian targets were aimed at preventing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!),” Donald Trump said on Tuesday.

US Central Command said Sunday’s attacks were also focused on preventing IRGC forces from placing new mines in the strait.

“US forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

“In essence, Iran created the threat and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce.”

It reiterated on Tuesday that the fresh strikes were in retaliation to Iranian aggression against shipping in the strait, as well as attacks against American troops in the Middle East.

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 19:40

Hormuz will soon be a 'worthless piece of water', says Bessent

The Strait of Hormuz will soon be a “worthless piece of water” as it is bypassed by other oil pipelines, the US Treasury Secretary has claimed as he threatened imminent new sanctions on Iran.

Speaking at a meeting of G20 ministers in the US on Tuesday, Scott Bessent said the crucial waterway would be “bypassed in two years” after it was shut by Iran in response to US-Israeli strikes in February.

The closure of Hormuz has caused chaos in global energy markets, sending oil prices soaring and contributing to rising inflation.

“In two years, the Strait of Hormuz will be like a worthless piece of water,” Mr Bessent said.

Daniel Keane1 September 2026 19:20

'Severe punishments' await US after fresh strikes, IRGC warns

Iran has issued a warning to the US, saying it will regret its fresh attacks on Tuesday.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebi said: “Severe punishment awaits the aggressors, and America will regret its new attacks.”

It comes after Donald Trump told Iran not to hit back to its current strikes, saying any retaliation would be met with attacks at a “harder and higher level”.

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 19:01

Trumps tells Iran to not retaliate to his 'large and powerful' strikes

Donald Trump has told Iran not to retaliate to his “large and powerful” strikes along the Strait of Hormuz, which are ongoing.

He warned that “they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level” if Iran strikes back, adding that “it will not be the biggest attack of them all.

“That is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!”

The US president wrote: “The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz.

“The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan.”

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 18:33

Explosions heard in several cities near the Strait of Hormuz

Several explosions have been heard along the Strait of Hormuz after the US announced it had initiated strikes on Iran.

Local media has reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Jask, and Sirik in southern Iran, which are all along the waterway.

US Central Command said its military was targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets.

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 18:25

Trump launches fresh strikes on Iran

Donald Trump’s military has launched fresh strikes on Iran on Tuesday afternoon.

It says the strikes follows attempted attacks on shipping and US service members in the Middle East.

Centcom said: “The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region.”

The US president said more strikes might be necessary after it fired rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Harriette Boucher1 September 2026 18:02

Watch: Trump says Iran is a 'failed nation' as strikes resume

James Reynolds1 September 2026 18:00