Former President Donald Trump has denied reports that he is attempting to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, stating he "couldn't care less" if a deal is signed. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the current situation, with significant control over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's collapsing economy, is preferable.
Trump also issued a direct challenge to the Iranian populace, urging them to "rise up and fight" against their government, referencing the earlier protests this year where thousands of Iranians were reportedly killed by security forces.
The escalating tensions come amid a recent surge in military actions. On Tuesday, Trump ordered a new wave of ballistic missile strikes targeting Iranian radar systems and military assets along a 300-mile stretch of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported strikes on the oil-rich Qeshm Island, with explosions also heard in the southern port cities of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on Camp Titin, a U.S. Marine base in Jordan, though the Pentagon has not immediately confirmed this.
This exchange follows Iranian strikes over the weekend on U.S. bases in Jordan. U.S. Central Command stated it is "hitting back hard" against Iran. Trump issued a warning against retaliation, vowing that any response would result in significantly harsher attacks, potentially leaving "very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
U.S. embassies in Qatar, Israel, and Jordan issued warnings about the complex security environment and the potential for sudden escalation, advising Americans in the Middle East to maintain heightened vigilance and prepare for travel disruptions.
Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly attacked two commercial vessels attempting to transit the strait. These strikes occurred despite Trump's previous claims that Iran's military had been neutralized and the conflict was over.
The conflict has impacted global markets, with Brent crude climbing 4 percent to $94 a barrel on Tuesday afternoon. The situation is further complicated by the collapse of a 14-point ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan in June, which expired on August 17 without a replacement. Trump has stated no new talks are planned and he refuses to extend the ceasefire.
The White House is demanding Iran dismantle its nuclear program and surrender its enriched uranium stockpile. Tehran, however, insists on the U.S. lifting its naval blockade and allowing Iran control of the strait before making concessions. Trump indicated in August that he did not anticipate a deal he deemed necessary.
These military actions follow a stated shift by U.S. officials towards economic pressure, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowing to "economically asphyxiate this regime" until it agrees to terms. Trump previously vowed to launch an "economic D-Day" on Iran if it did not dismantle its nuclear program. Despite these efforts, neither side has significantly budged in the ongoing standoff.