Trump warns Iran he will hit back '100 times harder' as nuclear tensions escalate
Trump warns Iran he will hit back '100 times harder' as nuclear tensions escalate US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that he will "hit back 100 times harder" if it escalates the conflict, as tensions continue to rise. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Fernando Alba , Michael D. Carroll 01:57, Mon, Aug 17, 2026 Updated: 02:01, Mon, Aug 17, 2026 Trump said an escalation by Iran near the midterms won't change his tactics (Image: Getty) Donald Trump declared in a recent interview that any escalation by Iran would not alter his approach to the war, even if it were to occur close to this November's midterms, cautioning the country that he would "hit back 100 times harder." When questioned by reporters regarding a potential escalation, the president responded that he believes the American public backs him in preventing a "lunatic nation from having an atomic bomb. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Get the latest news from around the world and more Subscribe Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy "They can not have nuclear weapons. It's very simple. I say it all the time," he told Fox News' Alexis McAdams. "Everybody agrees with it. We're doing really great with the Hormuz Strait. We have a blockade that's like a wall of steel." Trump continues to maintain that the war in Iran, which has now lasted nearly six months, retains broad support amongst Americans, despite a series of recent polls suggesting otherwise. Karoline Leavitt's 'real reason' for quitting as Donald Trump's Press Secretary Britain's best day out spots - from hidden beaches to new places Recent surveys conducted by Reuters and Ipsos earlier this month indicate that roughly one in three Americans approve of the US strikes on Iran, while 62% stated they disapprove. Nearly 70 per cent of respondents also said they believe Trump has not "clearly explained the goals of U.S. military involvement in Iran." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Tehran is reportedly approaching ongoing negotiations with the U.S. with a timetable designed to keep the Trump administration entangled in the war long enough to deal a significant blow to Republicans in the November elections, The Guardian reported last week. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Tehran is reportedly hoping the damage would be similar to that suffered by President Jimmy Carter during the U.S. embassy hostage crisis in 1979. Iran is reportedly attempting to drag out negotiations to hurt Trump politically (Image: Getty) Iran's focus on the midterms became increasingly apparent last week when Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the official IRNA news agency that, having agreed a route for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, it would take two to four months to reach the second phase of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. The original plan, to commence the nuclear phase of talks within 30 days of signing June's memorandum of understanding with the U.S., had been abandoned by the Trump administration, Gharibabadi said. To reach that second stage, he has now reportedly laid out a lengthy course encompassing the lifting of sanctions, the end of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, the unfreezing of Iranian assets and fresh commitments on peace — a process that could extend well beyond the midterms. Donald Trump Iran Nuclear weapons Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments