Trump warns Iran will be ‘hit very hard’ as regional war widens

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Iran would be “hit very hard”, signalling a potential expansion of US military strikes as the war between Iran, Israel and the United States entered its second week.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said additional Iranian targets — including areas and groups not previously considered — were now under review, blaming Tehran’s “bad behaviour” for the escalation.

The threat came as Israeli and U.S. strikes continued to pound Iranian military facilities and infrastructure, while Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. interests across the Middle East.

War widens across the region

Explosions were reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities as Israeli forces intensified air raids on military installations and Revolutionary Guard-linked sites. Iran responded with fresh missile and drone attacks against Israel and several locations hosting U.S. forces in the Gulf.

The conflict has already spread beyond Iran and Israel, with attacks and interceptions reported in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, where U.S. bases are located.

According to officials, Iranian strikes have killed civilians in Israel and targeted American installations across the region, while U.S. and Israeli bombardments have caused heavy casualties inside Iran.

Trump demands Iran’s surrender

Trump has also insisted that the war will only end if Iran accepts “unconditional surrender,” rejecting diplomatic proposals for negotiations with Tehran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed the demand as unrealistic, saying Iran would continue defending its sovereignty despite the ongoing military campaign.

In a televised message earlier, Pezeshkian said Iran had apologised to neighbouring countries for strikes that landed on their territory and indicated Tehran would avoid targeting regional states unless attacks were launched from their soil.

However, Iranian forces continued operations against Israeli and U.S. positions, underscoring the widening scope of the conflict.

Rising casualties and global concerns

Diplomats and analysts say the confrontation has become the most direct military clash between Iran, Israel and the United States in decades.

Civilian casualties have mounted across the region, and global energy markets have been rattled amid fears of disruption to oil shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Governments across Europe and Asia have begun evacuating citizens from parts of the Middle East as the war intensifies and the risk of a broader regional conflict grows.

Analysts warn that Trump’s latest threat of heavier strikes could signal a major new phase in the conflict, raising the possibility of deeper U.S. involvement and further retaliation by Iran and its regional allies.