Donald Trump threatened severe retaliation after the United States and Iran exchanged attacks again on Sunday, while Iran's president called for talks to end the war.
On Monday, 31 Aug 2026 GMT+7, US President Donald Trump declared he would strike Iran “severely” following the first exchange of fire between the two sides in over a month, while Iran's president warned that further fighting with the US would not benefit his country.
The US military launched an attack on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, prompting Tehran to immediately retaliate by striking US military targets in the Middle East region.
The war between the US and Iran has lasted six months, with both sides maintaining a standoff: Iran continues to block the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, while the US sustains a maritime blockade in response.
This recent exchange of fire has raised international fears of a larger confrontation, with the US president firmly declaring that there will be retaliation.
“We are going to hit them hard,” Trump said in a brief interview with Fox News reporters. “There has to be retaliation,” he emphasized.
The US military stated they attacked Iran's missile launch base on Larak Island to prevent Tehran from laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in two deaths and several injuries.
Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at targets in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, claiming the targets were US military forces stationed there. However, on Monday, Iran's President Mahsud Pesechkian called for negotiations.
“We continue to strive for agreements and mutual understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is not in our interests nor beneficial to the region,” he said at a summit in Kyrgyzstan, adding that "the solution to existing problems lies in dialogue and cooperation."
This recent exchange follows several weeks of relative calm during which the Trump administration shifted focus to an "economic war," imposing additional sanctions on Iran and threatening to sanction any country that assists Iran.
Earlier Monday, Trump labeled Iran a “failed state” in a social media post, stating that Iran's military has been devastated, its financial system is collapsing, and “its leaders are in complete disarray, unable to properly represent the country.”
.cna