Trump vows "very hard" strikes as Iran ceasefire collapses
The fragile ceasefire in the Middle East teetered on the brink of collapse on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to escalate military strikes against Iran, accusing Tehran of delaying a peace deal and vowing that the Islamic Republic would “pay the price.” The escalation followed overnight exchanges of strikes between the two sides, triggered by the downing of a U.S. attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump declared that Iran had “taken too long” to negotiate and warned that Washington would respond “very hard” if no agreement was finalised. “They will have to pay the price,” he wrote . U.S. airstrikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday were followed by retaliatory missile attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, further destabilising a region already grappling with soaring oil prices and financial market volatility .
Iranian officials dismissed Trump’s threats as provocative, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office accusing Washington of escalating tensions through “unfounded accusations” over the helicopter crash . Meanwhile, regional analysts warned that further strikes risked spiralling into a broader conflict, with former Israeli military intelligence chief Danny Citrinowicz cautioning that even limited U.S. strikes would not alter Iran’s negotiating stance .
Trump’s rhetoric has also exposed divisions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose domestic political survival hinges on elections by October. While Washington seeks an exit from a war that has roiled global oil markets, Netanyahu faces pressure to maintain a hardline stance against Tehran .
The latest escalation comes amid reports that Trump is considering targeting Iran’s energy and transport infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, to force concessions . Oil prices surged in response, while U.S. crude reserves declined, adding to market jitters .
With both sides dug into maximalist positions, the prospect of renewed diplomacy appears increasingly remote. As Trump’s threats of “very hard” strikes reverberate across the region, the fear is no longer just of escalation—but of a conflict that neither side can control.