The United States and Iran have exchanged new warnings of further military action after both countries carried out strikes against each other’s targets, raising fears of renewed escalation across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of delaying negotiations and warned that Tehran would now “have to pay the price,” while claiming Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened. The comments came after Iran launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. military installations in the region following American strikes on Iranian military sites.
Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that Iran’s military was “a complete and total mess” and claimed much of its naval and air capabilities had been destroyed. He also criticized Tehran for what he described as prolonged delays in reaching a diplomatic agreement with Washington.
The sharp rhetoric followed U.S. military operations on Tuesday targeting Iranian defense systems, radar installations, and ground control facilities near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said the strikes were a proportional response to the downing of an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf a day earlier.
According to U.S. officials, the helicopter was struck while conducting patrol operations in the region. President Trump later stated that an Iranian drone hit the aircraft as it flew at a low altitude. Both crew members survived and were rescued by an American sea drone.
Iran has not officially claimed responsibility for the helicopter incident. Iranian state-affiliated media reported that Tehran had not taken credit for the attack, while U.S. officials said investigations were continuing to determine whether the drone strike was intentional.
In retaliation for the American strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced attacks on 21 targets linked to U.S. military operations in the region. Iranian officials said strikes targeted American facilities in Bahrain and Jordan, while Kuwait reported intercepting incoming projectiles aimed at its territory.
A U.S. official told Reuters that nearly all Iranian missiles and drones launched during the retaliatory operation were intercepted, with no casualties reported among American personnel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would continue responding to any military action directed against the country.
“Iran will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” Araghchi said, arguing that the United States had suffered setbacks on the battlefield despite Washington’s claims of success.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also accused the United States of undermining diplomatic efforts through conflicting messages and repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement that was reached earlier this year.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqai said Tehran would reassess its diplomatic engagement with Washington, arguing that meaningful negotiations require stability and consistency from both sides.
The current conflict began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes against Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader. Iran responded with attacks against Israel and U.S.-aligned nations in the Gulf, triggering a broader regional confrontation that later drew Lebanon into the conflict.
Although Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire in April, sporadic exchanges of fire have continued, preventing a return to full diplomatic normality. Negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term settlement have continued intermittently, including recent talks held in Pakistan.
The latest exchange of strikes and threats highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and underscores the continuing risk that isolated military incidents could trigger a wider regional conflict.