Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump described Iran's actions as "cuckoo" and accused the country of continued aggression despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
"We hit them very hard last night. Very, very hard. We'll probably hit them hard again tonight. I'll give them a little warning. We're going to hit them hard tonight," Trump said. He added that the US could "knock out more boats tonight" but indicated reluctance to escalate further by targeting electricity, water supplies, or taking over Kharg Island.
The remarks came hours after the United States carried out major strikes on Iranian assets in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as on Qeshm Island. These actions were in retaliation for what Washington described as Iranian attacks involving drones and missiles targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also announced the revocation of a licence authorising the sale of Iranian oil, tightening economic pressure on Tehran.
"They're Not the Bully Anymore"
The US President framed the conflict around Iran's long-standing regional influence and its nuclear ambitions.
"They are behaving very badly... They're cuckoo. There's something wrong with these people, and for 47 years, they've been the bully of the Middle East, and they're not the bully anymore," Trump said.
He emphasised that the core US objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump expressed frustration with Iranian negotiating tactics, claiming that while private talks showed progress, Tehran would publicly deny agreements.
Earlier in the day, Trump had declared an interim memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran "over," calling further efforts "a waste of time," though he indicated that diplomatic channels would remain open.
He clarified that the US naval blockade applies only to Iran, allowing other countries to continue their maritime activities freely.
Iranian Retaliation and Rising Tensions
Iran has responded to the US strikes with its own attacks on targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears of a wider regional conflict that could destabilise the Middle East and disrupt global energy supplies.
The developments have put the fragile interim agreement to halt fighting at serious risk of collapse.
Trump's strong rhetoric and the latest military exchanges mark a sharp escalation in the US-Iran confrontation, even as both sides continue limited diplomatic engagement.
The situation remains fluid, with analysts closely watching for Iran's next moves and potential involvement of other regional and international actors.
This story is developing.