U.S. President Donald Trump has issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, declaring that the Islamic Republic could “no longer exist” if it continues violating the recently signed ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that U.S. forces had carried out fresh strikes against Iranian military targets, accusing Tehran of once again breaching the ceasefire.
“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” Trump wrote.
“It is very possible that they will never learn! There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”
The remarks mark another escalation in Trump’s rhetoric toward Tehran and echo previous warnings he made earlier this year while attempting to pressure Iran into negotiations over its nuclear programme.
In April, Trump warned that Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” before later saying he stood by those comments. At the time, Democratic lawmakers condemned the remarks, accusing the president of threatening genocide and demanding political consequences.
Trump’s latest statement came before Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday. Iranian officials accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement and warned that any further American attacks would end ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that additional U.S. military action would lead to the “complete halt of all diplomatic processes.”
The latest exchange adds further strain to a fragile 60-day pause in hostilities agreed between Washington and Tehran.
The ceasefire is based on the recently signed 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which both countries agreed to suspend military operations while negotiating a broader settlement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and maritime security.
Despite the agreement, tensions have continued to rise.
On Thursday, Iran struck a Singapore-flagged cargo ship near the coast of Oman. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, the vessel sustained damage to its bridge and starboard side, although no injuries were reported.
The following day, Iran reaffirmed its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, stating that commercial vessels could continue to pass safely provided they coordinated with Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out additional strikes after a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude was struck by a one-way drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
Although the recently signed memorandum guarantees that commercial vessels will not be charged tolls to transit the strategic waterway, U.S. officials have repeatedly argued that any attempt by Iran to impose such fees would violate international law.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned against outside interference in the Strait of Hormuz, saying further intervention would only delay its full reopening and increase regional tensions.
“Any interference in this matter will only lead to further complications, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and increase the level of tension,” Araghchi said.
Despite the ceasefire remaining formally in place, the latest military exchanges have raised growing concerns that negotiations could collapse before a permanent agreement is reached.
