US President Donald Trump outdid even himself in a new verbal attack against Iran. Specifically, he spoke of a failed and dead state, presenting Tehran as a regime that has collapsed militarily, economically, and politically, while making an extremely heavy allegation regarding the death toll from the suppression of protests. In a post on social media, Trump claims that Iran no longer possesses a Navy or Air Force, that it has no currency, while further claiming that the country's soldiers and police officers remain unpaid. "Iran is officially a failed state. IT IS DEAD!", he characteristically writes, using particularly harsh language for the Iranian leadership. According to Trump, Tehran's leadership is in "complete confusion" and incapable of properly representing the country. At the same time, he cites inflation at 300%, presenting the Iranian economy as another front of collapse.
"Over 100,000 dead"
The most critical point of the post, however, concerns the protesters. Trump claims that the Iranian leadership is willing to kill citizens who protest, raising the death toll to over 100,000. "They should be tried for war crimes against humanity!", he states, taking direct aim at the Iranian leadership. This is an exceptionally heavy claim that should be treated as a assertion by Trump rather than an independently verified casualty count. This reference carries significant weight precisely because it comes from the American president and is linked to the demand for international accountability of those responsible.
And then came... "BULLSHIT"
However, Trump does not stop there. After describing an Iran that, in his view, has lost its military, economic, and political strength, he moves on to an even more characteristic attack. He claims that all that remains for Tehran is the suppression of protesters, "FAKE NEWS from the US," and a "good dose" of what he directly labels "BULLSHIT." This phrase, rendered as closely as possible to the style of the original, captures the unusually raw vocabulary chosen by the American president. "All they have is FAKE NEWS from the US, a willingness to kill their protesters (there are now over 100,000 dead. They should be tried for war crimes against humanity!) and a good dose of 'BULLSHIT'," Trump explicitly writes.
Retaliation for the attack in Jordan
Meanwhile, in statements to Fox News just minutes after his social media post, Trump signaled a response to Iran for the attack in Jordan. Specifically, the American president stated that the United States will respond to the Iranian attack against American forces in Jordan overnight. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump stated, adding that "there will be a response." Fox correspondent Trey Yingst reported that Trump stated all incoming missiles, except one, were intercepted by US air defense systems. The one missile that was not intercepted, according to Yingst, was determined not to pose a threat to anything significant, so American forces allowed it to pass through. Yingst also reported that Trump emphasized that the Iranians "want to meet so badly." However, the American president expressed doubts about whether he can trust them to honor an agreement. At the same time, Trump maintained that existing US sanctions against the Iranian regime "are starting to hit hard."
Escalation in the Middle East
Trump's new outburst was preceded by an exchange of strikes between the US and Iran for the first time in over a month, marking a significant escalation in the conflict and reigniting fears of further hostilities. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday (31/8/2026) that it launched an attack on two US bases in Jordan in response to a US strike on Larak Island over the weekend, according to Iranian media. On Sunday, American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after the US military reported that the IRGC was preparing rockets carrying naval mines to launch toward the Strait of Hormuz. The information was confirmed by U.S. Central Command to MS NOW. Larak, a small Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, has developed into a major military and shipping checkpoint for Tehran. The IRGC uses it to monitor vessel movements in one of the world's most critical maritime routes. "Earlier today, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with naval mines toward the Strait of Hormuz," Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said in a statement. "Last week, CENTCOM completed the removal of naval mines from international shipping lanes in the Strait. US forces are closely monitoring the area and remain ready to protect the free flow of commerce through this critical waterway," he added. Sunday's attack was the first US strike on Iranian positions publicly acknowledged by Washington since late July. The war has now lasted six months and has caused severe disruptions to ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime artery for global energy transport.
Oil prices rise
The new surge in military activity caused oil prices to jump above $90 a barrel, as energy market participants monitor the risk of fresh supply disruptions from the Middle East. Specifically, shortly after Trump's post, US crude was up 3.45% at $86.28, while Brent moved above $90, up 3.14%.
Trump threatens Kharg Island
At the same time, US President Donald Trump extended his military threats against Iran on Monday to include Kharg Island, the country's primary oil export terminal. Trump posted an AI-generated video on the Truth Social platform depicting the bombing of the oil hub, writing that it is about to be blown "to smithereens." There was no evidence to prove an attack on Kharg Island had taken place, and an Iranian official reportedly dismissed Trump's post as ridiculous. On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also announced that a supertanker caught fire and was immobilized in the southern portion of the Strait of Hormuz after striking two naval mines. According to Iranian media, the mines were deployed because the ship failed to comply with Iran's rules for navigating the Strait. The IRGC Navy also called on vessels to follow its rules for safe passage through the waterway. Meanwhile, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday that the US and its allies bear "full responsibility" for the consequences of the escalation and that Tehran will respond decisively to any further military attack by the "enemy."
Attacks on US bases in Jordan
The IRGC reported that the US attack on Larak Island killed and injured several Iranian soldiers, and that Iran responded with strikes on US military bases in Jordan, according to Iranian media. The combined operation using missiles and drones targeted the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases, according to reports. The strikes "destroyed technical and repair infrastructure, as well as deployment positions of enemy fighter jets," causing "heavy damage," the Iranian armed forces reportedly stated, while warning that their responses will become progressively stronger.
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών