The United States is now considering striking areas and groups within Iran that were not previously considered targets, according to the president, escalating a week-long war that has upended global energy markets and sent shockwaves around the world.
“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” the president said in a social media post early Saturday, as American and Israeli forces continued their bombardment of Tehran and other cities for an eighth consecutive day. He stated the attacks would continue “until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!”
This post came in response to Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who vowed not to back down. “The idea that we would surrender unconditionally — they must take such a dream to the grave,” he declared in a speech. Pezeshkian, who leads an interim council following the death of the country’s supreme leader, also claimed to have instructed the military not to attack any nation that is not striking Iran, offering a vague apology to neighboring countries he called “our brothers.”
However, this conciliatory language was not matched by actions. Iran launched drones and missiles at Qatar and Bahrain, while the United Arab Emirates reported continued attacks. Kuwait, a major oil producer, reduced its output, citing “ongoing aggression by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Later on Saturday, a spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard stated the country was “fully prepared to continue an intense, all-out war at the current rhythm for at least for six months.”
The conflict has directly targeted energy infrastructure, with Saudi Arabia intercepting drones heading toward a major oil field. The attacks have triggered a sharp surge in crude oil and gasoline prices. In the UAE, one person was reported killed by debris from an intercepted aerial attack.
The US president seized on Pezeshkian’s apology, suggesting it was forced by “the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack.” He announced that “serious consideration for complete destruction” was being given to new targets “because of Iran’s bad behavior.” Iranian media interpreted this as a potential threat to civilian populations, though attacks up to this point have largely focused on military and government sites.
The toll from the conflict has been significant, with Iranian reports citing at least 1,332 fatalities and widespread destruction. Six US troops have died since the fighting began.
The war has disrupted global supply chains and stoked fears of a new inflation crisis, drawing more than a dozen countries into the fray. A European leader warned against an “endless war” that could lead to regional disintegration and a migration crisis, while other nations attempted to de-escalate tensions. Meanwhile, Iran was preparing to elect a new supreme leader as the conflict showed no signs of abating.
