Trump Threatens to 'Hit Iran Hard' as US and Iran Trade Strikes

President Donald Trump warned on Monday that the United States would 'hit Iran hard' after the two countries exchanged military strikes over the weekend. The US fired missiles and a drone at Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday night. Iran then struck back at US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The fighting was the first direct exchange between the two sides in about a month.

The US military called its strike a 'limited, precise action' against Iranian forces placing underwater mines in a major shipping lane. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important waterways for oil tankers and cargo ships. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported at least three people were killed, including two members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy. The Revolutionary Guard is a powerful branch of Iran's military.

After the US strike, Iran said it hit back at military facilities in Jordan and the UAE, both of which host US bases. Iran said its response was meant to send a clear message. Trump spoke to Fox News on Monday and made clear he was not done. 'We're going to hit them hard. There will be a response,' he said.

Trump also posted an AI-generated video online showing Kharg Island, Iran's biggest oil export hub, being blown up in a huge explosion. The video was not real — it was made using artificial intelligence to look like a news clip. Vice President JD Vance told reporters Trump was 'sending a message' with the post. Iranian officials quickly mocked the video, calling Trump's posts 'laughable.'

Later Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform calling Iran a 'Failed Nation' and writing in capital letters that 'IT IS DEAD!' He claimed Iran has no real navy, air force, or stable currency. He also said Iran's inflation rate has reached 300 percent, meaning prices there have risen to crisis levels. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent backed up those claims, saying Iran is 'lashing out' because it is 'losing economically.'

Despite the heated words, Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said his country still wants a peaceful solution through talks. He said continuing the war 'is in no one's interest, neither ours, nor the region's, nor humanity's.' A short-term agreement between the two sides collapsed earlier this month, and peace talks have largely stalled. Pakistan has tried to bring both sides together, but has not succeeded so far.

Several major disagreements remain unresolved, including questions about Iran's nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz. The country of Oman is working on a separate deal about the shipping route, but it has not been completed. A senior Iranian official warned that the strait would 'become worse' for ships that ignore Iran's rules. Because so much of the world's oil passes through that narrow channel, any trouble there could raise fuel prices globally.

The US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, and were expected to last only a few weeks. Instead, the conflict has now entered its seventh month with no clear end in sight. Both sides continue to trade threats while also leaving the door open — at least slightly — for talks. The situation remains tense and closely watched by countries around the world.