Conflict Escalates as US and Iran Exchange Threats
Conflict between the United States and Iran continues to intensify, with both nations exchanging escalating threats.
The US, alongside Israel, conducted a military operation named Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Saturday, 28 February 2026. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at several countries hosting American forces.
On Sunday, 1 March, Iran announced the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a result of the strikes. Iran subsequently issued harsh warnings.
“The hand of retaliation of the Iranian nation for a heavy, firm, and regrettable punishment of the murderers of the Imam of the Ummah will not spare them,” stated the Revolutionary Guards in a statement reported by AFP.
Iran’s news agency IRNA reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) announced a retaliatory operation targeting US military and security positions as well as the Zionist Israeli regime broadly, using missiles more advanced than those deployed in Operation True Promise 3. Iran vowed to deliver more precise and destructive strikes.
IRGC forces declared readiness to target both fixed and mobile enemy positions in the region with Iranian missiles and drones. Previously, the IRGC announced on Saturday evening that an American vessel, the MST, had been struck by missiles from Iran’s naval forces.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that avenging Khamenei’s assassination and that of other senior Iranian officials was Iran’s “duty and legitimate right”. He emphasised that Iran would mobilise all its capabilities.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers seeking justice and avenging those responsible for and those who ordered this historic crime as its duty and legitimate right, and will mobilise all its strength to fulfil this great responsibility and obligation,” said Pezeshkian whilst expressing condolences over Khamenei’s death.
He also characterised Khamenei’s assassination as an “open declaration of war against the Islamic world”, particularly Shia Islam. He described the death as a tragedy.
“This tragic event is the greatest trial currently facing the Islamic world,” said Pezeshkian.
Trump Issues Escalated Warning
US President Donald Trump issued a new threat towards Iran, warning the country against retaliating against American and Israeli strikes.
“Iran has just announced they will attack very hard today, harder than they have ever attacked before. THEY BETTER NOT DO IT, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL ATTACK THEM WITH A FORCE LIKE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, as reported by BBC on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
The US named the operation against Iran Operation “Epic Fury”. According to NBC News, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the American military operation against Iran as the deadliest, most complex, and most precise air operation in history.
“The Iranian regime had the opportunity, yet refused to make a deal - and now they are bearing the consequences. For nearly fifty years, Iran has targeted and killed Americans, consistently seeking the world’s most lethal weapons to advance their radical objectives. Last night, unlike previous presidents, President Trump began addressing this cancer,” said Hegseth in a post on X.
He stated that the US “will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people”. He said the operation aimed to destroy Iran’s missiles, missile production, and its naval forces.
“As President Trump has always said throughout his life, Iran will never possess nuclear weapons,” said Hegseth.
He claimed the US did not initiate the conflict, asserting that Iran has threatened American citizens.
“The United States did not start this conflict, but we will end it. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world - as Iran has done - then we will hunt you, and we will kill you,” he said.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Operation “Epic Fury” began on 28 February under Donald Trump’s direction. US forces and American allies commenced strikes on targets at 01:15 US time to disable Iran’s security apparatus.
The US claimed strikes were conducted prioritising locations presenting direct threats. Targets included command and control facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s air defence capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.