US-Iran Clashes Escalate Again as Trump Warns of More Strikes, Tehran Vows ‘More Destructive’ Response

Military clashes between the US and Iran are intensifying again after the two sides exchanged major attacks over the past several weeks, ending a relative lull in hostilities.

Reuters reported on September 2 that US Central Command had completed a series of airstrikes a day earlier targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC. The targets included air defense facilities, radar systems, naval assets and related facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications infrastructure.

Iranian media also reported attacks on multiple areas inside the country, including near the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a critical artery for global oil shipments, and Iran has threatened tankers passing through it without permission.

Iran swiftly retaliated. Tehran said it had struck US military facilities in Jordan and Iraq, while local media reported that Bahrain was also targeted. The IRGC claimed the strike on Jordan killed multiple US troops, but two US officials told Reuters an initial assessment found no casualties.

Jordan’s military said it intercepted 10 of 13 ballistic missiles that entered its airspace, with the remaining three landing in remote areas. Bahrain said it also intercepted and destroyed drones launched by Iran. The IRGC further claimed it attacked a US base in Arbil in northern Iraq with missiles and drones and killed several American troops, though there was no confirmation from US or Iraqi authorities.

The latest exchange marks the most serious military confrontation between the two countries since July. The US and Iran had refrained from direct attacks for some time, but efforts to restart negotiations had shown little progress.

President Donald Trump left open the possibility of additional military action. “We now almost completely control the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s economy is totally collapsing,” Trump said. “Iran is only heading toward inevitable consequences.” He added: “When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?”

Iran vowed to intensify its retaliation. The country’s Joint Military Command said continued US aggression would bring a response that is stronger, broader and more destructive. It added that countries cooperating with the US military would face dangerous consequences.

Civilian casualties were also reported. The Iranian Red Crescent said a wedding hall in Sirik, a coastal area near the Strait of Hormuz, was hit, killing five people and injuring 50. Mehr News Agency reported that the dead included a 4-year-old child, while state-run IRNA said the number of injured had reached 68. The US has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack and signaled a response. It said it would respond firmly to what it called “such barbaric crimes” and argued that countries and international organizations that tolerate or justify US military action would not be free from the consequences.