President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran "hard" following the first exchange of strikes between the two countries in a month, according to French newspaper Le Figaro. The warning came as both sides traded attacks, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Le Figaro reports that Trump's threat was made in response to the recent military exchanges. The president's language suggests a potential intensification of US military action against Iranian targets. The report does not specify the exact nature of the strikes exchanged or the locations involved.
The threat follows a period of relative quiet in the conflict, with the latest round of strikes breaking a month-long pause in direct military engagement. Iran has reportedly attempted to dissuade Trump from following through on his threat, according to coverage from 20minutes.fr.
In a separate development, Trump has also shared what La Dépêche describes as fake images of a military attack, claiming that Iran's Kharg Island had been "reduced to crumbs." The outlet notes that Kharg Island is considered a critical vulnerability for Iran, though the images themselves were not authentic.
Financial markets have reacted to the escalating tensions. Wall Street closed lower, while oil prices and bond markets moved higher, according to Boursorama and Le Revenu. Both outlets attribute the market pressure to the Iran situation and Federal Reserve policy concerns.
The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further military action hanging over the region. Observers will be watching whether Trump follows through on his bombing threat and how Iran responds to the pressure.
