US President Donald Trump promised on Monday, August 31, a military response "with force" to missile attacks launched by Iran against US targets in the Middle East. In comments to Fox News television station, Trump assured that "there will be a response" and that the United States will "attack them with force." According to the US president, all missiles launched by Iran, with the exception of one, were intercepted, so he considered that the attacks do not pose a significant threat to American forces in the region.
The statements come after Washington carried out, in the early hours of today, the first attack against Iranian targets in about a month, hitting Larak Island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded to the attack with actions against American bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump also intensified his rhetoric against Iranian leadership, considering that the country is plunged into "total chaos" and classifying it as a "failed nation." On his Truth Social platform, the president claimed that Iran has no Navy, Air Force, currency, does not pay its soldiers or police, and that inflation is at 300%. Trump also accused Iranian authorities of repression against demonstrators and stated that the leadership "must be tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity," having also shared an AI-generated video depicting the destruction of Kharg Island, where Iran's main oil export terminal is located.
The conflict began on February 28, with a joint offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran. A ceasefire reached in April allowed for a significant reduction in direct confrontations, although sporadic attacks have continued in the Strait of Hormuz region. Diplomatic efforts to end the war remain at an impasse, despite recent mediation initiatives by Pakistan.
