US President Donald Trump has said that American military operations against Iran are not over, warning that the United States will soon launch a major strike on a suspected secret Iranian nuclear facility, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had completed an 11th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran. The latest operations targeted military facilities, including aircraft hangars and drone storage sites, with the stated aim of degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the next phase of military action could target an underground facility near the Natanz nuclear site, which the US suspects is being used for undeclared uranium enrichment activities. “We will hit that area very hard pretty soon,” Trump said, adding that Iran is now incapable of stopping US military operations. He also claimed that even if the United States halted its offensive, it would take Iran 20 to 25 years to rebuild its military and nuclear infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Iran has continued to intensify its regional response. Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan all reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait said several power stations and desalination plants had recently come under attack, forcing the government to introduce energy rationing. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking a US military base in Jordan and warned that it would launch even larger missile and drone attacks.
At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi movement announced an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabian ports in response to military operations carried out by the United States and its allies against Iran. Washington warned it would respond militarily if the Houthis implemented the blockade, while Saudi Arabia condemned the threat and reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Separately, Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington, where he pledged continued US support for Lebanon’s stability. He said the United States would assist the Lebanese Armed Forces in expanding control over southern Lebanon and support efforts to disarm Hezbollah, with the goal of establishing a more durable peace arrangement with Israel.