Trump vows response to latest Iran attacks on US bases

President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the United States would respond vigorously to an Iranian attack on American military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. "We’re going to hit them hard," he stated to Fox News, "There will be a response." According to Trump, US air defenses intercepted all but one of the Iranian missiles launched, with the exception being because it wasn't targeted at anything "significant." Jordan's military reported intercepting eight of the missiles.

Trump also announced that US sanctions on Iran were "kicking in really strongly," suggesting that Iran was looking for negotiations, but questioned whether its leaders could be trusted to reach an agreement. The assault followed the first-ever US missile and drone strike on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a move by the US Central Command described as "limited, precise action" after detecting Iranian preparations to place mines in the waterway.

Last week, Trump had claimed that the US Navy had cleared the strait of mines, a statement Iran dismissed. On Monday, Trump labeled Iran as a "failed nation," alleging that its military and economy had been devastated and its leadership incapable of governing. He tweeted on Truth Social, "Iran is officially a failed nation. IT IS DEAD!"

Trump also made a controversial claim, stating that over 100,000 protesters had been killed by the Iranian government, a figure significantly higher than his previous estimate of over 54,000 in July. He called for Iran's leaders to be held accountable for "war crimes against humanity."