US-Iran Conflict Escalates Again as Trump Warns of More Strikes, Tehran Threatens ‘More Destructive’ Response
Summary
- The US said it carried out airstrikes targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), hitting air defense facilities, radar systems and naval assets.
- The attacks extended to areas near the Strait of Hormuz, raising risks around a key route for global crude shipments.
- After President Trump said Iran’s economy is collapsing completely and suggested more military action was possible, Tehran warned of a more destructive response.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
Military conflict between the US and Iran is intensifying again after both sides exchanged large-scale attacks following a weeks-long lull.
Reuters reported on September 2 that US Central Command said it had completed a series of airstrikes a day earlier against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. The targets included air defense facilities, radar systems, naval assets and related facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications infrastructure.
Iranian media also reported attacks in several parts of the country, including areas near the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a vital route for global crude shipments, and Iran has threatened tankers transiting the strait without its permission.
Iran quickly retaliated. Tehran said it struck US military facilities in Jordan and Iraq, while local media reported that Bahrain was also targeted. The IRGC claimed the attack in Jordan killed multiple US troops, but two US officials told Reuters an initial assessment found no casualties.
Jordan’s military said it intercepted 10 of 13 ballistic missiles that entered its airspace, with the remaining three falling in remote areas. Bahrain also said it intercepted and destroyed drones launched by Iran. The IRGC further claimed it attacked a US base in Irbil in northern Iraq with missiles and drones and killed several American troops, though neither US nor Iraqi authorities confirmed that account.
The latest exchange marked the most serious military confrontation between the two countries since July. The US and Iran had avoided direct attacks in recent months, but efforts to resume negotiations had made little progress.
President Donald Trump left open the possibility of additional military action. “We now almost completely control the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s economy is collapsing completely,” Trump said. “Iran is only heading toward inevitable consequences.” He added: “When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?”
Iran also vowed to escalate its response. Iran’s Joint Military Command said that if “US crimes” continue, Washington would face a response that is “stronger, broader and more destructive.” Countries cooperating with the US military would also face dangerous consequences, it said.
Civilian casualties were also reported. Iran’s Red Crescent said a wedding hall in Sirik, a coastal area near the Strait of Hormuz, was hit, killing five people and injuring 50. Mehr News Agency reported that the dead included a 4-year-old child, while state-run IRNA said the number of injured stood at 68. The US had not issued an official statement on the incident.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks and signaled further retaliation. It said it would respond firmly to what it called “such barbaric crimes” and argued that countries and international organizations that tolerate or justify US military action would not escape the consequences.
