Trump Threatens More Strikes as Death Toll in Iran Rises to 18 The United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could launch further attacks on Iran “anytime we want,” as the death toll from recent US strikes climbed to 18, with at least 108 others wounded. The threats came after a major exchange of military force between the two nations, marking their most intense confrontation since July. The US military struck cities and coastal areas along Iran’s southern coast, including a wedding party in Kuhestak, while Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed the US had “hit them very hard last night” and emphasized that the strikes had destroyed “all of the new equipment” Iran was building near the Strait of Hormuz. He reiterated his readiness to escalate the conflict, stating, “We’re prepared to do another one. And anytime we want.” Iranian officials condemned the strikes, with Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi confirming 18 deaths, including two children. One of the casualties was a four-year-old boy killed during the attack on the wedding party in Kuhestak, which left at least four people dead. Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, labeled the strike a “war crime” and accused the US of targeting civilians, calling the attack “so horrifying” that even American propaganda had not dared make such claims. The conflict has intensified over the past six months, leading to a sharp rise in global oil prices and significant economic disruption. The war has also become a political liability for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that only 31 percent of Americans approve of the war, while 63 percent disapprove.#iran #donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #bahrain #kuhestak
