Day 12 of Conflict: Iran Calls Trump 'Devil' as Israel Expands Attacks on Tehran
Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point on day 12 of armed conflict. The Iranian government openly hurled insults at US President Donald Trump, calling him “Satan” and reaffirmed its vow to eliminate Israel from the region.
The harsh statement was delivered by Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. During government television broadcasts on Wednesday (11 March), Safavi responded sharply to American leadership under Trump.
“Trump is the most corrupt and stupid American president. He is Satan himself,” Safavi stated, as quoted from AFP reports on Thursday (12 March).
Safavi also underscored Iran’s position in the increasingly heated regional conflict. According to him, there is no room for Iran and Israel to coexist in the Middle East. “In the Middle East region, Israel and Iran cannot exist together. One of them must remain. The one that will remain is Iran and the one that will be destroyed is the Zionist regime,” he added.
Iran’s statement emerged only hours after President Donald Trump claimed premature victory in the military campaign he called “Operation Epic Fury”. Speaking before supporters in Kentucky, Trump claimed that US military forces had incapacitated most of Iran’s naval and air assets.
However, conditions on the ground indicate Iranian resistance remains fierce. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had conducted combined missile operations with Hezbollah to strike targets within Israeli territory in retaliation for air strikes on Tehran and Beirut.
Beyond military threats, Tehran warned that this prolonged war would devastate global economic stability. Current focus centres on the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil distribution channel.
Iran’s Ministry of Health reported that more than 1,200 people have died since the coalition air strikes began on 28 February 2026. Meanwhile, more than 800,000 residents in Lebanon have reportedly been displaced as a result of the expansion of the war zone by Israeli military forces.
The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues to monitor the situation and has urged all Indonesian citizens in the Middle East region to immediately report their status and follow evacuation instructions if necessary.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conducted a series of telephone conversations with foreign ministers from four Islamic countries: Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Qatar.
Chuck Schumer revealed that since 28 February, at least 140 US military personnel have been wounded, including eight with serious injuries.
Iran’s threats to attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have triggered surging oil prices and concerns over global energy markets amid the conflict with the US.
A UN fact-finding team reported distressing conditions for Iranian civilians caught between US-Israeli air strikes and increasingly systematic government repression.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran remains welcome to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, despite the escalating Middle East conflict.