The United States has conducted 12 consecutive nights of airstrikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran — but President Trump said Thursday that we might just be getting started. He’s mulling the possibility of majorly increasing the size and scope of the assault on the mullahs:
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President Trump told Axios on Thursday that he’s seriously considering restarting major combat operations in Iran — including strikes that would be bigger than the ones carried out during Operation Epic Fury.
Why it matters: In a brief interview, Trump acknowledged that such a decision would have consequences and stressed he hasn’t made a determination yet.
- Trump didn’t give a deadline for his decision. Two other U.S. officials confirmed no call has been made and no new orders have been given to the military.
BREAKING: Trump announces the US is about to carry out a massive attack on Iran “way bigger than Operation Epic Fury and bigger than any attack ever carried out before,” saying “we are all set for it,” and are “close to making a decision,” Trump tells Axios.
This comes as Israel…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) July 23, 2026
BREAKING: Trump announces the US is about to carry out a massive attack on Iran “way bigger than Operation Epic Fury and bigger than any attack ever carried out before,” saying “we are all set for it,” and are “close to making a decision,” Trump tells Axios.
This comes as Israel have been placed on maximum alert with numerous anti-missile shelters opening in Israel today, including the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
Trump also says Iranians “haven’t received enough pain yet” and claims they “want to negotiate” but are not ready to make a deal, contradicting Iran’s comprehensive no-negotiations with the US doctrine reaffirmed by Ghalibaf, Gharibabadi, Marandi, and Baghaei this week.
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Trump added that Israel would jump at the chance to take part:
Trump said Israel “would join in two minutes if I ask them to,” but added that “we don’t need anybody” to launch a new operation against Iran.
He also said there would be “consequences” for Israel joining the strikes, hinting at Iranian retaliation against Israel.
The big picture: Trump said the Iranians “want to negotiate” but are not ready to make a deal at the moment.
- “They haven’t received enough pain yet,” he said.
As my colleague Ward Clark wrote earlier Thursday, Iran has ramped up tensions in the region by calling on their terrorist allies to attack commercial shipping:
The Yemen-based Houthis have been kicking up their heels again, at the behest of their Iranian overlords and benefactors. They have been taking potshots at shipping in the Red Sea, including two Saudi Arabian-flagged ships, which is a dangerous gamble for the Houthis.
As Ward wrote, Trump had a stark warning for them:
Please let this TRUTH [social media post] serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.
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Will there be a 13th night of airstrikes — or a “massive” operation on a far larger scale? RedState will keep you updated.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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