Trump vows retaliation after US troop deaths, says Iran will pay many times over
In a stern warning to Iran, Trump said he had instructed top US defence officials to ensure that Iran will pay for that killing many times over whenever an American service member is killed.
Amid the mounting death toll in the US-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump on Monday issued a fresh warning to Tehran, declaring that every American soldier killed by Iran would be met with an overwhelming military response. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed top US defence officials to ensure Iran "will pay for that killing many times over" whenever an American service member is killed.
"Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military," Trump wrote.
His warning came after the Pentagon confirmed that three US service members were killed over the weekend in separate Iranian attacks -- two at a military base in Jordan and another in northern Iraq. The two soldiers killed in Jordan were identified as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25. Another service member remains missing after the Jordan attack, with US officials saying "unidentified remains" have been recovered during the search.
The US President also said the latest American strikes had hit Iran "very hard" and were carried out "in honour" of the three fallen troops, signalling that Washington's military campaign against Tehran is likely to intensify.
US AND IRAN EXCHANGE FRESH STRIKES
Trump's warning came as both countries launched another round of attacks, further eroding hopes that the interim ceasefire reached just weeks ago could be revived.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets. According to the military, the operation was aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punishing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces blamed for attacks on American troops.
Iranian media reported explosions in several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini. State news agency IRNA said at least one person was killed and several others were injured near Tabriz.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting US military facilities across the region. Iran said it struck American assets at Jordan's Aqaba airport, Kuwait's Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base, along with positions in Syria.
Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain, while Kuwait's military said it intercepted hostile drones during the latest Iranian attack.
The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the defining features of the conflict.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed two oil tankers exploded after attempting to navigate what it described as an "unsafe" route through the strait. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman. While the ship was left adrift, all crew members were reported safe.
Washington has repeatedly said its military operations are intended to keep international shipping lanes open, while Tehran accuses the United States of attempting to seize control of one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
ATTACKS EXPAND TO CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Beyond military installations, the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure.
Kuwait confirmed that one of its desalination plants came under attack for the second consecutive day, causing a fire. Desalination facilities provide most of the drinking water for Gulf countries, and damage to these plants has heightened fears of water shortages affecting millions of residents.
Iran has accused the United States of previously targeting one of its own desalination facilities and has warned it could retaliate against similar infrastructure across the Gulf.
DIPLOMACY REMAINS ON THE TABLE
Despite the escalating violence, both Washington and Tehran indicated they were not entirely closing the door to diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would continue striking Iran as long as Tehran threatened international shipping, but stressed that Washington remained open to negotiations.
"As long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're gonna have to respond to that. The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution," Rubio said.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also acknowledged receiving proposals from international mediators. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic channels remained active but declined to discuss details of the initiatives currently under consideration.
Amid the mounting death toll in the US-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump on Monday issued a fresh warning to Tehran, declaring that every American soldier killed by Iran would be met with an overwhelming military response. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed top US defence officials to ensure Iran "will pay for that killing many times over" whenever an American service member is killed.
"Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military," Trump wrote.
His warning came after the Pentagon confirmed that three US service members were killed over the weekend in separate Iranian attacks -- two at a military base in Jordan and another in northern Iraq. The two soldiers killed in Jordan were identified as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25. Another service member remains missing after the Jordan attack, with US officials saying "unidentified remains" have been recovered during the search.
The US President also said the latest American strikes had hit Iran "very hard" and were carried out "in honour" of the three fallen troops, signalling that Washington's military campaign against Tehran is likely to intensify.
US AND IRAN EXCHANGE FRESH STRIKES
Trump's warning came as both countries launched another round of attacks, further eroding hopes that the interim ceasefire reached just weeks ago could be revived.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets. According to the military, the operation was aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punishing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces blamed for attacks on American troops.
Iranian media reported explosions in several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini. State news agency IRNA said at least one person was killed and several others were injured near Tabriz.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting US military facilities across the region. Iran said it struck American assets at Jordan's Aqaba airport, Kuwait's Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base, along with positions in Syria.
Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain, while Kuwait's military said it intercepted hostile drones during the latest Iranian attack.
The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the defining features of the conflict.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed two oil tankers exploded after attempting to navigate what it described as an "unsafe" route through the strait. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman. While the ship was left adrift, all crew members were reported safe.
Washington has repeatedly said its military operations are intended to keep international shipping lanes open, while Tehran accuses the United States of attempting to seize control of one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
ATTACKS EXPAND TO CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Beyond military installations, the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure.
Kuwait confirmed that one of its desalination plants came under attack for the second consecutive day, causing a fire. Desalination facilities provide most of the drinking water for Gulf countries, and damage to these plants has heightened fears of water shortages affecting millions of residents.
Iran has accused the United States of previously targeting one of its own desalination facilities and has warned it could retaliate against similar infrastructure across the Gulf.
DIPLOMACY REMAINS ON THE TABLE
Despite the escalating violence, both Washington and Tehran indicated they were not entirely closing the door to diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would continue striking Iran as long as Tehran threatened international shipping, but stressed that Washington remained open to negotiations.
"As long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're gonna have to respond to that. The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution," Rubio said.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also acknowledged receiving proposals from international mediators. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic channels remained active but declined to discuss details of the initiatives currently under consideration.
Amid the mounting death toll in the US-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump on Monday issued a fresh warning to Tehran, declaring that every American soldier killed by Iran would be met with an overwhelming military response. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed top US defence officials to ensure Iran "will pay for that killing many times over" whenever an American service member is killed.
"Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over! This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military," Trump wrote.
His warning came after the Pentagon confirmed that three US service members were killed over the weekend in separate Iranian attacks -- two at a military base in Jordan and another in northern Iraq. The two soldiers killed in Jordan were identified as Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25. Another service member remains missing after the Jordan attack, with US officials saying "unidentified remains" have been recovered during the search.
The US President also said the latest American strikes had hit Iran "very hard" and were carried out "in honour" of the three fallen troops, signalling that Washington's military campaign against Tehran is likely to intensify.
US AND IRAN EXCHANGE FRESH STRIKES
Trump's warning came as both countries launched another round of attacks, further eroding hopes that the interim ceasefire reached just weeks ago could be revived.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets. According to the military, the operation was aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punishing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces blamed for attacks on American troops.
Iranian media reported explosions in several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini. State news agency IRNA said at least one person was killed and several others were injured near Tabriz.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting US military facilities across the region. Iran said it struck American assets at Jordan's Aqaba airport, Kuwait's Al-Adiri camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base, along with positions in Syria.
Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain, while Kuwait's military said it intercepted hostile drones during the latest Iranian attack.
The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the defining features of the conflict.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed two oil tankers exploded after attempting to navigate what it described as an "unsafe" route through the strait. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman. While the ship was left adrift, all crew members were reported safe.
Washington has repeatedly said its military operations are intended to keep international shipping lanes open, while Tehran accuses the United States of attempting to seize control of one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
ATTACKS EXPAND TO CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Beyond military installations, the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure.
Kuwait confirmed that one of its desalination plants came under attack for the second consecutive day, causing a fire. Desalination facilities provide most of the drinking water for Gulf countries, and damage to these plants has heightened fears of water shortages affecting millions of residents.
Iran has accused the United States of previously targeting one of its own desalination facilities and has warned it could retaliate against similar infrastructure across the Gulf.
DIPLOMACY REMAINS ON THE TABLE
Despite the escalating violence, both Washington and Tehran indicated they were not entirely closing the door to diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would continue striking Iran as long as Tehran threatened international shipping, but stressed that Washington remained open to negotiations.
"As long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're gonna have to respond to that. The United States always remains open to a diplomatic solution," Rubio said.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also acknowledged receiving proposals from international mediators. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic channels remained active but declined to discuss details of the initiatives currently under consideration.
