Trump Declares Iran 'Dead,' Vows Retaliation After Fresh Clashes
Al Jazeera Staff
President Trump reiterated that Iran is 'dead,' called for prosecuting its leaders for crimes against humanity, and vowed retaliation after Iran's missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. The fresh clashes mark a new escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, now in its seventh month.
U.S. President Donald Trump once again declared Iran 'dead' and called for prosecuting its leaders for what he termed 'war crimes against humanity.'
Speaking on Monday, Trump also pledged to retaliate against Iran's recent attack on a base housing U.S. troops in Jordan.
The U.S. leader's remarks come as the war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran enters its seventh month, with fresh clashes erupting and no end in sight.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: 'Iran is officially a failed nation. IT IS DEAD! They have no navy, no air force, no currency, they don't pay their soldiers or police, inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in complete chaos and unfit to represent the country.'
Since the early days of the conflict, Trump has repeatedly claimed Iran's ruling system is collapsing. However, the Tehran government has held firm without any major defections, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leading the war effort.
Regional fighting resumed on Sunday after U.S. airstrikes on Iran's Larak Island, accusing Tehran of preparing to launch naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran quickly responded by firing missiles at a base housing U.S. troops in Jordan, demonstrating its capability and resolve to retaliate when attacked.
Trump vowed to respond to Iran's move, a development that risks prolonging the conflict. 'We will hit them very hard,' the U.S. president told Fox News. 'There will be a response.'
This is the first round of fighting between the two countries since July. Trump's administration had previously said it would shift tactics from military operations to economic pressure. However, the latest clash shows the risk of conflict remains high unless a permanent end to the war is reached.
Also on Monday, Trump suggested that it was the crackdown on anti-government protesters that kept the Tehran regime from collapsing. He wrote: 'The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the U.S., their willingness to kill protesters (over 100,000 are dead. They must be prosecuted for crimes against humanity!), and a nice slogan.'
The figure of 100,000 protester deaths is a new number from Trump. Previously, the U.S. president accused Iran of killing up to 60,000 people in protests earlier this year. It is unclear where Trump got this new figure.
Iran's government has documented 3,117 deaths, including security forces members, blaming 'rioters' backed by Israel. Trump also appeared to conflate war crimes—violations of the laws of war—with crimes against humanity—systematic campaigns of abuse against civilians.
Additionally, Trump has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes allegations in Gaza. Iran has also accused the U.S. of committing war crimes and targeting civilians during the war. An airstrike in Minab, southern Iran, on the first day of the conflict hit a girls' school, killing 168 people, most of them children.
