Trump warns Iran against retaliation, vows unprecedented force

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran that any retaliatory actions following a joint US–Israel offensive would be met with unprecedented military force. Speaking on social media, Trump said reports of Iran planning a “very hard” response are being closely monitored, but cautioned Tehran against acting, asserting, “if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before.”

The warning comes as Iranian officials have signaled intentions to respond with intense force to previous strikes. Trump has repeatedly defended US military operations as necessary to “defend the American people” and counter what his administration describes as imminent threats from Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes.

Threats and Directives to Iranian Forces

Following “Operation Epic Fury” on Saturday, which targeted Iranian sites and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Tehran officials, Trump directed members of Iran’s security forces to surrender or face “certain death.” He also encouraged the Iranian population to rise up and “take over your government” once hostilities subside, framing the military action as both a security and political intervention.

Also Read: Potential successors to Ayatollah Khamenei listed as Iran begins transition

Escalating US-Iran-Israel Conflict

The joint US–Israel operation involved “major combat operations” within Iran and has dramatically escalated tensions across the region. Trump’s statements underline a zero-tolerance approach to any Iranian retaliation, signaling a period of heightened military alert and strategic uncertainty in the Middle East. Regional and global actors are closely monitoring developments as the situation continues to unfold.