In brief
Trump announced at an Iowa rally that the United States could resume strikes against Iran, saying "at some point we will have to give them the hammer." In response, Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned of a larger, longer‑lasting conflict, calling global U.S. assets fair game. Reported accounts also hint at a recent phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging immediate action, amid mixed signals from Washington regarding negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States could resume strikes against Iran, and Iranian forces warned that any renewed conflict would be larger and longer than past ones.
During a rally in Iowa ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Trump said, “The only reason we are not finished with Iran is because I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can…At some point, we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”
In response, Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia warned that a U.S. “aggression” would meet an “immediate, decisive response on a larger scale than before,” extending beyond West Asia. He said, “U.S. facilities, equipment, personnel, and interests could be targeted wherever they are within reach.”
A report added that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone conversation on Saturday, during which Netanyahu urged the United States to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections. Trump reportedly preferred to let negotiations continue, a stance that has concerned Netanyahu.
Other reports indicate that Tehran received a letter from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, sent at Trump’s direction, calling for a resumption of peace negotiations. Senior U.S. military officials briefed Trump on possible options, and Gulf states were urged to prepare for a possible short, intense campaign against Iran after the elections.
In a statement released Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instructed senior commanders to ensure that any threat from the “enemies,” regardless of its nature or scale, would be met with an “immediate and effective” response without geographical limits.
