Trump warns of the possibility of the region sliding into a wider conflict
The US military launched new air strikes on Sunday morning to “punish” Iran for its attacks against US forces in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of two soldiers, marking the first such action since the resumption of military operations against Tehran. Iran had continued its treacherous attacks against Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, while accusing the United States of attacking a nuclear facility under construction and announcing the interception of ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
While the strikes targeted the eighth consecutive night, hitting forces and facilities belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the US military had expanded the scope of its operations to include roads, bridges, and logistical sites in the south, in an attempt to cut off supply lines to Iranian forces deployed around the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned of the possibility of the region sliding into a wider conflict if Iran is not deterred, emphasizing that continued escalation could lead to a broader regional confrontation.
He reiterated that the primary objective of the current campaign is to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump also expressed indifference to Iran’s announcement suspending its commitments under the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
Militarily, US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a statement that the new round of strikes targeted coastal military monitoring sites, air defense facilities, naval capabilities, and missile and drone storage depots, without specifying their geographic locations.
It added that the campaign aims to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to punish IRGC forces that carried out attacks on US personnel in Jordan on Friday, resulting in two soldiers killed and a third missing. This brings the total number of US casualties since the start of the war to 16, in addition to more than 420 injured.
This is the first time CENTCOM has indicated that one wave of bombing focused on targeting units of the Guard itself, whereas previous statements had only referred to the nature and military function of the targeted facilities.
Footage released by the US military appeared to show strikes carried out by fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles launched from the sea. One of the targeted sites was shown to be located in a valley in a mountainous area dotted with missile bases and fortified military installations.
In response, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization stated that the United States had targeted the Darakhein nuclear plant under construction near the city of Falak in the west of Khuzestan province with several projectiles.
In Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for “military restraint near all sites related to the nuclear program,” while the UN agency noted that it had been in contact with Tehran.
The agency reported via the X platform that the Darakhein plant, construction of which began in 2022 in southwestern Iran, “is in the early stages of construction and did not contain any nuclear materials during the agency’s last visit.”
It added that the attack therefore does not pose a “radiological risk.”
In a second statement, it reported the interception of ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission, amid escalating clashes between Washington and Tehran aimed at controlling the waterway.
The statement noted, “Four ships (...) with US support attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz, ignoring warnings,” adding that two of these ships were hit and rendered immobile, while the other two retreated.
US President Donald Trump stated that Republicans should include Iran in a bill related to imposing sanctions on Russia. Writing on his platform Truth Social, he said, “Republicans should add Iran to the sanctions bill on Russia. This is what Lindsey wanted, and it would have happened inevitably. Important! President Donald Trump.” US Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat from Connecticut) had introduced an updated bill on sanctions against Russia and buyers of Russian energy resources, which was developed in collaboration with the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
During a visit to a center affiliated with the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command, he said, “If Iran launches missiles toward Israel, we will respond with full force,” adding, “If the United States changes its policy, which is possible, we are ready to act, whether defensively or offensively, against Iran.”
In this context, an Israeli official announced that his country might join the conflict if Iranian attacks on regional countries continue. Speaking to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, he stated that “the memorandum of understanding is no longer in effect, and the Iranians are attacking neighboring countries,” emphasizing that Israel is preparing for any Iranian attempt to target it.
He continued, “If Iran attacks us, it will pay a heavy price, and there will be no limits to what we will do, unlike the previous round of conflict.”
Israeli reports had indicated that Tel Aviv had offered Washington the opportunity to join US attacks on Iran, but the Trump administration rejected involvement in the operations.
An Israeli military official said that the United States “has decided to modify the status of its forces in the region... and to strengthen the current fleet of aerial refueling aircraft stationed in Israel.”
