After Iran Vows Major Offensive, Trump Warns: “We Will Hit Them With A Force That Has Never Been Seen Before”

The United States and Iran traded stark threats on Sunday after Tehran vowed retaliation over the reported killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As Iranian forces launched new strikes on American and Israeli targets across the region, US President Donald Trump issued a direct warning, saying Washington would respond with overwhelming power if attacks continued.

"Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Tehran Vows Immediate Retaliation

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the cleric's death through state television hours after Trump publicly announced the killing of the 86-year-old leader, whom he described as "one of the most evil people in History."

Soon after, the Revolutionary Guards released a message promising a sweeping military response.

"The most ferocious offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces will begin any moment now," the Guards posted on Telegram, adding it would target the "occupied territories and American terrorist bases" in the region.

Iranian authorities framed the action as a direct response to the assassination, signalling that retaliation would extend beyond Israel to US military installations across the Gulf.

Attacks Target Regional Bases

The threatened sites include American facilities stationed across Gulf nations, which were already assessing damage after a wave of Iranian strikes described as unprecedented in scale and intensity. Regional security forces have heightened alerts as missile and drone activity expanded across multiple fronts.

Iranian commanders portrayed the coming attacks as unavoidable and framed them as a national duty.

"The hand of revenge of the Iranian nation for a severe, decisive and regrettable punishment for the murderers of the Imam of the Ummah will not let go of them," the Guards added further.

Washington Signals Stronger Response

Trump's warning suggested Washington is preparing for a significant escalation if Iranian operations continue. His statement came as the conflict widened beyond isolated clashes into coordinated attacks on US and Israeli assets across the Middle East.

With both sides now publicly threatening massive retaliation, diplomats fear the confrontation could shift from regional exchanges to a broader war involving multiple countries and military alliances.