Just days after the crisis between the US and Iran escalated into a new armed conflict, US President Donald Trump has made unprecedented tough statements, refusing to rule out the possibility of continuing airstrikes against Iran.
Speaking on Fox News on June 11, Trump said: 'I could keep going. They had a chance to sign a deal and survive, but they missed it.' Later, in the Oval Office, he continued: 'We will attack them, attack them very hard.'
The US attacks began on June 10, after a US helicopter was shot down over the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran launched missiles at bases hosting US forces in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Although previous attacks often ended quickly, Trump's latest remarks suggest this phase of fighting could be prolonged, raising fears that the ceasefire from April 8 may collapse.
Trump also reiterated a threat to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges, despite concerns that targeting civilian infrastructure could amount to a war crime. When asked whether that plan would be carried out, he said: 'I don't confirm it, but I could do it.'
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: 'Iran has been completely defeated. They wasted too much time negotiating a deal favorable to them, and now they will pay the price.' However, Iranian officials insist they will not sign any deal that does not recognize their 'rights.' They also show no fear of returning to war.
Although Trump claims Iran has lost militarily, Tehran still has the ability to retaliate against US attacks and maintain a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing energy prices to spike. Iranian Parliament Vice President Haji Babaei said: 'Diplomacy can only succeed when the demands of the Iranian people are met. America will lose in the economic and military war.'
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also emphasized: 'War is certainly not in the country's interest, but if they violate our dignity, land, and territory, we will not surrender.'
Meanwhile, critics argue that Trump may be distracted by his domestic agenda—including co-hosting the FIFA World Cup, preparing for the 250th anniversary of independence, and the midterm election season—making it difficult for him to rekindle a full-scale war with Iran. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy criticized: 'The president has completely lost control of the Iran war and thus lost interest. He is now only obsessed with making money while gas and food prices skyrocket.'
