Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump threatened Tehran on Wednesday, asserting that it would pay a price for its delay in reaching an agreement with the United States. This came as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday morning the completion of a series of extensive military strikes against Iranian targets. These strikes were in response to escalating tensions in the region.
Trump: Iran’s army is a “total mess” and the region’s bully is finished.
In a series of fiery posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump launched a scathing attack on the Iranian leadership and its military capabilities, describing the Iranian army as being in “utter chaos.” The US president added that most of the army’s branches, particularly the navy and air force, no longer existed in practice. He continued, “They have been completely defeated and have failed.”
Trump also reiterated his description of Iran as the “bully of the Middle East,” asserting that this era is over for good. In his post, he wrote: “Iran only talks, no action… The bully of the Middle East is dead and gone!!!” He concluded by emphasizing the importance of negotiations, stating: “They wasted far too much time negotiating a deal that could have been great for them, and now they will have to pay the price.”
Field responses: Tehran targets bases and the Fifth Fleet
In contrast, the past few hours have witnessed an unprecedented escalation on the ground. Tehran announced that it had targeted several US military bases and interests in the region. The Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, Iran’s highest military command, reported that it had bombed a number of US bases in response to what it described as “American aggression in southern Iran.” These operations were launched under direct orders from Trump, labeled as “self-defense strikes.”
As part of a series of Iranian responses, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain with drones, warning of “more severe” strikes if Washington continued its hostile actions. The IRGC also confirmed that it had bombed the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and targeted the Azraq airbase in Jordan with drones.
The Revolutionary Guard issued a statement condemning the US attacks that targeted the areas of Jask, Sirik, and Qeshm in the early hours of the morning under a flimsy pretext. The statement indicated that the bombing resulted in the destruction of a communications tower and two water tanks in the city of Sirik.
