Trump Threatens Iran After Missile Attack on US Military Assets
United States President Donald Trump issued a stern threat against Iran on Wednesday (29/7/2026), after US officials reported a ballistic missile attack targeting Washington’s military assets in the Middle East. Although the attack was successfully intercepted, Trump asserted that Tehran would face severe consequences.
The threat came following a joint military operation between the US and Saudi Arabia targeting Iran-backed forces in Iraq on the previous night. Riyadh’s involvement marks a new chapter in the escalation of the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
“Iran will be hit hard,” Trump said in a telephone interview with a Fox News correspondent. He added that US forces had only minutes to foil the missile attack.
Earlier the same day, Iran claimed it had targeted a US base in Jordan in response to what it described as American military aggression. Jordanian officials confirmed that their air defences successfully intercepted five Iranian missiles.
US Central Command (Centcom) stated that the joint strike with Saudi Arabia hit logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq. The operation was retaliation for more than 30 drone attacks directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in recent days. The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq reported that 20 of its members were killed in the strike.
Saudi Arabia’s direct involvement in attacking factions in Iraq is regarded as a significant step. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), believes Riyadh is beginning to lose patience.
“This is important because it could signal that the Saudis are willing to allow the US to use their bases for direct strikes on Iran or operations in the Strait of Hormuz,” Cancian said.
The Saudi foreign ministry said the strike was carried out after Iran-backed militias in Iraq targeted Saudi oil facilities. Nevertheless, Riyadh stressed it was not seeking further escalation but would not hesitate to respond to threats.
The tensions immediately triggered turmoil in the global energy market. Brent crude prices surged by around 3.5 per cent to US$87 per barrel on Wednesday. Market concerns deepened amid threats of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi groups in Yemen.
Diplomacy between Washington and Tehran remains at an impasse regarding access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil distribution. Although Saudi Arabia has begun taking military action to restore stability, analysts believe Riyadh still regards diplomacy as the core of its long-term strategy for managing regional security.