The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that Iran launched a new wave of attacks, firing ballistic missiles and drones toward the country as regional tensions continue to escalate.
According to the UAE’s Defense Ministry, Iran launched 16 ballistic missiles along with more than 117 drones during the latest assault.
The ministry said air defense systems successfully intercepted all 16 missiles, while an additional missile fell into the sea. Officials also reported that most of the drones were shot down, though four drones ultimately landed inside UAE territory.
The ministry added that the country remains prepared to “firmly confront” any further threats.
Earlier Sunday, Iran’s president warned that Tehran could expand attacks against American targets across the Middle East in response to continuing Israeli and U.S. military operations.
The UAE did not provide details about the specific locations targeted in Sunday’s attacks.
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President Donald Trump said Saturday he is not ruling out the possibility of deploying American troops into Iran, indicating that a ground operation could be considered to secure Iranian nuclear material as the conflict continues to escalate.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Dover Air Force Base back to Florida, Trump said any decision to send American forces into Iran would only be made if there were a compelling justification. He stressed that U.S. troops would be deployed only for a “very good reason.”
When questioned about whether American soldiers might eventually operate on Iranian soil, Trump suggested that Iran’s military would be too weakened to effectively resist such a mission if it were to occur.
He also identified one potential objective for such an operation: taking control of Iran’s nuclear materials.
Trump said the possibility has not been examined in detail but indicated it could become an option down the line, calling it “something we could do later” and “a great thing” if circumstances required it. His remarks went beyond the current campaign of airstrikes and long-range attacks, suggesting he is leaving open the door to a deeper U.S. military role if the war expands.
Asked how long the military effort might continue, Trump declined to offer any timeline.
“Whatever it takes.”
Trump also signaled that additional strikes against Iran remain under consideration.
He said American forces could target more Iranian military installations and personnel in the future, though he noted that no final decisions had been made. Trump described Iran’s armed forces as severely degraded, saying its missile manufacturing capability and launcher infrastructure had already been heavily damaged.
Despite the possibility of further escalation, Trump said he does not support every proposed military option.
He said he does not favor supplying weapons to Kurdish groups that might serve as potential ground partners, explaining that he does not want to complicate the conflict further.
At the same time, Trump repeated his demand that Iran accept “unconditional surrender.”
He also pointed to an apology issued by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to neighboring Arab countries that had been struck during the fighting, describing the gesture as evidence of weakness. Nonetheless, tensions in the region remain high, with the United Arab Emirates reportedly coming under repeated attacks on Saturday.
When asked about reports suggesting Russia may be helping Iran locate potential U.S. targets, Trump said he had “no indication whatsoever.”
Steve Witkoff, the president’s Middle East envoy, also expressed hope that Moscow is not assisting Tehran. Trump added that even if such cooperation were taking place, he believes it would make little difference because Iranian forces are already struggling.
After attending ceremonies at Dover marking the first American casualties of the conflict, Trump ended his remarks on a solemn note, acknowledging the human cost of the war and describing the loss of life as “a sad part of war” and “the bad part of war.”
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President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s next supreme leader will not remain in power for long unless the United States approves the selection, issuing the warning as Iran moves closer to choosing a successor to its current leadership.
Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Trump said the individual chosen to lead Iran would not be able to maintain authority without Washington’s acceptance.
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” the president told ABC News. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”
Trump said his concern is preventing a situation in which the international community repeatedly faces the threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
“I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon.”
When asked whether he would consider approving a leader who previously had ties to Iran’s existing regime, Trump indicated he would be open to the idea if the candidate proved capable of governing responsibly.
“I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would. There are numerous people that could qualify.”
Trump also argued that Iran had been preparing to dominate the broader region before recent military developments changed the situation.
“They are a paper tiger. They weren’t a paper tiger a week ago, I’ll tell you. And they were going to attack,” he said. “Their plan was to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East.”
Trump said he has not ruled out the possibility of deploying American special forces to secure Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium.
“Everything is on the table. Everything.”
A senior administration official said last week that Iran has already enriched enough uranium to reach weapons-grade levels within about ten days.
According to the official, large quantities of that material are believed to be stored at nuclear facilities that were targeted during Operation Midnight Hammer, including Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
“In theory, if we had physical control of that territory, if we had physical control of those places where it’s located, we could send our people in and dilute it on premise,” the official said.
Over the weekend, Trump also met with the families of six U.S. service members who were killed. When asked whether attending the dignified transfers caused him to reconsider the conflict, Trump said it did not.
“No, not at all,” he said. “The parents would be upset if I did that. The parents said to me, every one of them, please sir, win this for my boy, and in one case a young woman, as you know. Please, win this for my child.”
Reflecting on the meeting with the families, Trump described the experience as emotional but meaningful.
“It was a beautiful event. It was a beautiful, beautiful event, where I met the parents. They were devastated but proud.”
Asked about how long the conflict might continue, Trump declined to offer a specific timetable.
“I don’t know. I never predict. All I can say is we are ahead of schedule both in terms of lethality and in terms of time,” he said.
Just days earlier, Trump had suggested the conflict could conclude within four to five weeks.
During the interview, the president also brushed aside concerns about rising gasoline prices, describing the increase as temporary.
“I think it’s fine. It’s a little glitch. We had to take this detour,” he said. “I knew exactly what was going to happen with the detour. But the nice part is we sank 44 of their ships which is their entire navy. We’ve knocked out their entire AirForce. We’ve knocked out all of their communications, telecommunications. Their anti-aircraft systems are gone. They have absolutely no defense. All they have is talk.”
Although some longtime supporters have questioned aspects of the operation, Trump said he has not faced meaningful opposition from his political base.
“It’s more popular than ever. It’s a very MAGA thing what we’re doing. A very very MAGA thing,” he said. “Because otherwise we won’t have a country either, we’ll be hit. And MAGA is all about saving America … I’m at the highest point I’ve ever been with MAGA.”
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Barack Obama delivered pointed remarks about the nation’s political atmosphere during a speech Friday at the funeral of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson in Chicago, criticizing what he described as ongoing attacks on democratic institutions without mentioning President Donald Trump by name.
The funeral drew a wide array of prominent political and civil rights figures. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton also addressed the gathering, along with several well-known progressive leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton.
Jackson, who was 84, passed away last month after suffering from the neurodegenerative disease progressive supranuclear palsy, according to a statement from his family. The longtime activist and former Democratic presidential candidate was widely recognized for his decades of civil rights work and for helping open doors for Black political leaders, including Obama.
Obama’s remarks during the service contained sharp criticism of the country’s political climate. Both he and the other former presidents in attendance have previously been criticized by President Trump, and Obama’s comments reflected those tensions.
“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions. Another setback the idea of the rule of law. An offense to common decency.”
“Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible,” he continued. “Each day, we’re told by those in high office to fear each other, and to turn on each other. And that some Americans count more than others. And that some don’t even count at all. Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying and mocker masquerading as strength.”
Later in his remarks, Obama acknowledged that such developments can make it difficult for people to remain hopeful.
“It’s hard to hope in those moments.”
He then turned to Jackson’s legacy, saying the civil rights leader’s life offered a different path forward.
“But this man, Rev. Jesse Jackson, inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope,” Obama said.
Obama recently drew attention after President Trump reposted a video on social media depicting him and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, as apes. The video was later removed by the White House following criticism and complaints from both Democrats and Republicans.
Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president, spoke after him and delivered his own criticism of the current administration.
“We got an administration that doesn’t share any of the values that we have, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating a little bit,” Biden said, adding that Jackson “knew who we were at our best, that he simply refused to let us off the hook as a party, as a nation, or as individuals.”
Biden also reflected on Jackson’s role in pushing the country toward greater justice.
“And time and again, with triumph and turmoil, with relentless insistence on what is right and just, he helped lead us closer to fulfilling our nation’s promise of restoring the nation’s soul,” Biden said.
Bill Clinton, who awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, was also present at the service. In his remarks honoring Jackson, Clinton avoided making any direct or indirect reference to Trump.
President Trump did not attend the funeral. After Jackson’s passing, however, he issued a public message recognizing the civil rights leader while also offering criticism of Obama.
“Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed!”
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