US, massive airstrikes on southern Iran, Iran missile and drone retaliation, Trump "waiting for bigger attack"

On March 1st, American forces launched a large-scale air strike on southern Iran, and Iran immediately retaliated by firing missiles and drones at military bases in the Middle East. The U.S. Central Command announced on social media platform X that they had begun targeting targets in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with attacks that "followed recent attacks on the Hormuz Strait convoy and Iranian ground troops in Hormuz."

Iran's media reported that the attacks focused on southern coastal areas, Hormuz Strait islands, including Keshm, and targeted the Kish Island military airport. Iranian Eastern Azerbaijan Airport also faced an attack. President Donald Trump confirmed after the strike that it was retaliation for Iran's recent attempt to install missile facilities and an 8-missile attack on Jordanian military bases.

He warned that "if Iran responds to this very justified attack with a much stronger and higher-level attack, it will be much more devastating," adding that "the biggest attack is still in the works, and after it is over, almost nothing will remain of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Trump stated that the primary target was Iran's radar facilities, explaining that they were "trying to rebuild the radar," and "waited until almost complete before striking."

He emphasized that the U.S. had the military capacity to respond, noting that the aircraft carrier George Washington was fully prepared. Iran would "hit much harder" if it launched further attacks, warning that "the third time would mean the complete destruction of the state." Trump maintained a negative stance on the possibility of diplomatic agreements with Iran, stating, "A deal with them is worth no more than the paper it is written on," expressing that the U.S. had given them "many opportunities."

The military pressure, combined with economic sanctions and naval blockades, marks a "cutting of the grass" approach to suppressing Iran's ability to strike again in the Hormuz Strait, according to the analysis. Axios reported that on the previous day, U.S. officials and high-ranking military officials were considering this approach.

Iran retaliated immediately after the American air strike, firing missiles and drones at Iranian military bases. The IRGC spokesperson, Saradar Mohajeri, warned that the U.S. would "regret" this attack and began issuing a "response to regret," launching its new surface-to-air missile system to intercept Iranian MQ-9 drones. With military clashes intensifying, Iranian leaders called for a return to negotiations.

President Masoud Pezehshian of Iran, speaking at the SCO Summit in Kirghizstan, called on the U.S. to fulfill the obligations of the June 2021 Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI), stating that Iran would immediately comply if the U.S. did so. He criticized the U.S. for failing to meet the JDI, which called for an immediate ceasefire and 60 days of peace talks, as the military clashes resumed, effectively ending the agreement.

Pezehshian stated that Iran has no interest in continuing the war and that the Pakistani government, which mediated the JDI, was ready to comply with it.