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Trump Issues Stark Warning as US and Israel Intensify Strikes on Iran
The United States and Israel have launched a renewed and intensive wave of attacks across Iran, marking the second day of a military campaign aimed at overthrowing the country’s government. The offensive has pushed the Middle East into a new regional conflict, with no clear timeline or outcome. Sunday’s escalation unfolded alongside increasingly heated rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran, raising the possibility of further military action in the coming days.
US president Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the United States would strike Iran “with a force that has never been seen before” if Tehran followed through on threats to retaliate after the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday. In a social media post, Trump wrote: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.” He added: “He was unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.” Trump said the objective of the campaign, which began Saturday morning with missiles and airstrikes, was regime change, and he urged “the Iranian people to take back their country”.
Explosions in Tehran and Expanding Military Action
In Tehran, a massive explosion on Sunday morning sent a plume of smoke into the sky and shook the ground. The blast appeared to occur near the country’s police headquarters, Iranian state television, Tehran’s revolutionary court, and a defense ministry building. The Israel Defense Forces stated that their air force was striking “in the heart of Tehran” and focusing on eliminating Iran’s remaining air defenses.
Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, told an emergency security council meeting on Saturday that hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured in the US-Israeli strikes. He said civilian neighbourhoods in multiple cities had been deliberately targeted. The joint offensive represents a new phase in US involvement in the Middle East and is the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has used military force against Iran.
Britain’s defence secretary, John Healey, described the situation as serious and worsening. “This is a really serious and deteriorating situation, [with] rising risks of increasing Iranian indiscriminate retaliatory attacks,” Healey said on Sunday morning. He accused Iran of “lashing out”.
Iranian retaliation has extended beyond Israel to civilian infrastructure and US military bases in Arab Gulf states. Witnesses reported loud blasts in Dubai and over Doha in Qatar for a second consecutive day. White smoke from missile interceptions was visible in Dubai’s skies, and dark smoke rose from its port, one of the busiest in the Middle East.
Iranian strikes overnight damaged Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel and its airport, which typically handles more than 1,000 flights daily. Airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also hit. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub, remained closed along with several other major airports in the region, causing one of the most significant global aviation disruptions in recent years. Analysts have long cautioned that a war involving Iran could trigger global economic instability.
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Israel early Sunday, with loud explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israel’s air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles.
Strait of Hormuz Threat and Civilian Casualties
Ships reported receiving a radio broadcast allegedly from the Iranian navy announcing that transit through the Strait of Hormuz was banned. The narrow waterway is a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, and the announcement raised expectations of a sharp rise in oil prices. Authorities in Oman reported damage to at least one oil tanker, although responsibility for the attack was not immediately clear.
While information about casualties inside Iran remains limited, Iranian authorities stated that more than 100 children were killed at a school in the southern city of Minab. Across the country, civilians described feelings of both fear and cautious hope. Some opponents of the regime expressed relief that anticipated strikes had occurred and suggested they might lead to political change, while also fearing further civilian casualties in a nation already affected by recent unrest.
Iran’s senior security official, Ali Larijani, accused the United States and Israel of attempting to plunder and fragment the country. State television reported that he warned “secessionist groups” of a severe response if they sought to intervene. Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Netanyahu and Trump had “crossed a red line” and “will pay for it”, according to state media. Senior officials indicated that a temporary leadership group would be appointed, and Ghalibaf said Iran would “continue Khamenei’s path”.
Iran’s leadership has faced mounting challenges in recent months, including an economy strained by US and other sanctions, widespread protests in January that were forcefully suppressed, and regional proxy groups weakened by Israeli operations.
Trump stated that the airstrikes were intended to eliminate a longstanding threat and prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “This is not only justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Both Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged Iranians to overthrow the clerical leadership that came to power following the 1979 revolution. Some Israeli analysts suggested officials believed Khamenei’s death could trigger a rapid nationwide uprising. However, although the deaths of Khamenei and other leaders may weaken the government, Iran’s ruling establishment retains significant support among segments of its 93 million population. Key institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, remain loyal.
The conflict has also led to unrest beyond Iran and Israel. In Pakistan, police clashed with protesters who breached the outer wall of the US consulate in Karachi, resulting in nine deaths. Demonstrations also took place outside the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the US embassy is located.
Escalation Raises Uncertain Future for the Region
The renewed military campaign between the United States, Israel, and Iran has expanded rapidly, affecting civilian populations, regional infrastructure, global aviation, and energy markets. With strong statements from leaders on all sides and retaliatory strikes continuing, the situation remains volatile and unpredictable. The unfolding events mark a significant turning point in regional dynamics, with the potential for broader consequences across the Middle East and beyond.
