Iran Warns US That Continued Attacks Will Expand Conflict to New Fronts

Iran responded on Thursday to reports that US President Donald Trump is considering invading Iranian islands and striking nuclear facilities, warning that if such threats materialize, the war will spread to additional theaters. This escalation of threats follows the collapse of an interim agreement aimed at reducing tensions, prompting Trump to order the resumption of a naval blockade on Iranian ports and a continuous wave of airstrikes over the past five days.

Yesterday, the US military conducted two rounds of airstrikes targeting Iran's ability to threaten maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, US naval forces are actively enforcing the blockade; in one incident, the US military fired Harpoon missiles at a vessel flying the flag of Curacao attempting to reach Kharg Island against American warnings, neutralizing the ship.

Despite directing his team to explore escalation options, President Trump has emphasized both publicly and privately his preference for a diplomatic solution. However, given Iran's refusal to comply with demands regarding its uranium stockpiles, Trump has instructed his staff to prepare operational plans capable of decisively ending the conflict.