President Donald Trump issued a series of forceful warnings Tuesday, declaring that the United States will continue targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and any facilities associated with its weapons program while signaling that additional military action could come soon.
Speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated that Iran will never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon and warned that any location connected to such efforts would remain a target.
“Any site where they’re even thinking about nuclear, we’ll be hitting it very, very powerfully,” Trump said.
The President argued that recent U.S. military operations have dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s capabilities, saying the damage would take decades to repair.
“Now, nobody knows except the Iranians the damage that we’ve done to them. We have done damage that will take them 20, 25 years to recover from. So if we left tomorrow, we had a big success. But we’re not leaving tomorrow,” Trump said.
Trump also suggested that another major strike could soon target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex, an underground site near the Natanz nuclear facility that has drawn increasing scrutiny because international inspectors have not been granted access.
Asked whether Iran had transferred uranium enrichment centrifuges to the mountain complex, Trump said it was possible but emphasized that U.S. intelligence is closely tracking Iran’s nuclear materials.
“They may have,” Trump said, adding, “we follow the material, that’s where the action is.”
He then indicated that military action against the site could be imminent.
“We’ll be hitting that area very, probably pretty soon. And there’s not a thing they can do about it. You know, normally I wouldn’t say that. If I thought they could do something about it, I would never say that. But we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon and very heavily,” Trump said.
Despite the ongoing military campaign, Trump said Iran is now seeking negotiations following repeated U.S. strikes against its military assets.
“They can not have a nuclear weapon and they won’t have — they have no chance of having a nuclear weapon… But we are doing very well. We are degrading them at levels that nobody thought was possible,” Trump said.
He added that Iran’s military has suffered severe losses but acknowledged that one recent Iranian attack in Jordan succeeded in killing American troops.
“They’re being degraded, really so seriously. They did slip something through in Jordan,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States has maintained intense pressure on Iran after ten consecutive days of strikes carried out by U.S. Central Command.
According to Hegseth, Tehran has repeatedly been offered opportunities to negotiate but instead has continued threatening international shipping.
“Iran has been given every opportunity to negotiate, to show that they’re reasonable on the Strait of Hormuz,” Hegseth said.
“But if they’re going to shoot a commercial shipping, then we’re going to hit them, as the president said, ten times harder, which every night we’re degrading them further and further,” he added.
“And the president has all the options necessary. If they want to talk, they can talk. Otherwise they can deal with the War Department. And we’re prepared.”
Trump also praised the U.S. naval blockade surrounding Iranian ports, describing it as nearly impenetrable.
He said the operation has effectively sealed off Iranian maritime traffic, while CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces have redirected multiple commercial vessels and prevented ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports since the blockade resumed.
The President also warned Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen against carrying out threats to shut down the Red Sea shipping lanes.
“We’ll see what happens. So far, it hasn’t happened. Might happen, but we take care of things. If something like that happens, we take care of it,” Trump said.
When asked specifically how the United States would respond if the Houthis attempted to blockade the Red Sea, Trump replied, “I think that if there is something like that, we’ll just have to take care of business.”
Elsewhere in the region, Iran expanded its military campaign by launching fresh missile and drone attacks against neighboring countries. Bahrain activated nationwide warning sirens and urged residents to seek shelter after Iranian forces claimed responsibility for attacking the U.S.-operated Sheikh Isa Air Base. Kuwaiti officials likewise reported intercepting incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
The growing conflict also reached northern Iraq, where three explosive drones were intercepted near the U.S. Consulate in Erbil. The incident temporarily halted operations at Erbil International Airport, while U.S. officials warned that escalating tensions could trigger additional attacks against American diplomatic facilities worldwide.
Reflecting those concerns, the State Department issued a worldwide security alert urging Americans to exercise heightened caution.
“Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the advisory stated.
The warning added that “U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.”
The Department also advised Americans in the Middle East to prepare for possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures, and other travel disruptions, while recommending that travelers reconsider nonessential travel to the region as the conflict continues to escalate.
{
Matzav.com}