US President Trump threatens to launch "hard" attacks on Iran

In June 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump made new threats against Iran, despite the official ceasefire between the two nations. The tensions have been rising as attacks on both sides continue to escalate. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to warn Iran that they would face "harsh" consequences for delaying peace negotiations. He emphasized that the time had come for Iran to accept responsibility for their actions. Later, during a press briefing at the White House, Trump reiterated his stance, stating that the United States would strike Iran again, though he did not specify whether critical infrastructure such as bridges and power plants would be targeted.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also issued warnings about potential strong attacks on Iran. He suggested that these attacks might occur either late at night or early the following morning. While Hegseth did not provide specific targets, he indicated that additional sites could be under consideration. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Hegseth clarified that the planned strikes were not aimed at reigniting the war but rather at setting conditions for a future agreement.

The recent escalation followed the downing of a U.S. combat helicopter near the coast of Oman, which Trump attributed to Iran. In response, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Iranian air defense systems, ground control stations, and radar installations in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. military, this was a proportional reaction. Following this, Iranian media reported that Tehran retaliated by attacking U.S. bases in the Gulf region and Jordan with ballistic missiles.

ARD correspondent Gudrun Engel noted that the concept of a ceasefire has become increasingly tenuous given the current situation in the region. She pointed out that the circumstances are too fragile to support the idea of a lasting ceasefire. Trump, she added, felt compelled to act after the helicopter incident, as failure to respond would have been perceived as weakness by the U.S.

Since the beginning of the conflict on February 28, 2026, Trump remained optimistic about achieving U.S. objectives in Iran quickly. Even as negotiations stalled, he maintained this outlook. On Wednesday, Trump claimed that the Iranian military had been largely defeated, describing parts of its forces—such as the navy and air force—as non-existent. He declared that the "tyrant of the Middle East is dead," referring to Iran's leadership.

Negotiations between the conflicting parties over a permanent end to the conflict have continued without significant progress. Officially, a ceasefire has been in effect in the Iran war for two months. However, the ceasefire appears to be growing more fragile each day. Earlier in the week, the conflict escalated dangerously when Iran launched missile attacks on Israel. In response, Israel attacked targets within Iran. Trump called on both countries to immediately halt hostilities, leading them to declare an end to their respective attacks.