Trump vows 'hard' strike on Iran after Jordan base attacks; oil prices surge

President Donald Trump has vowed to hit Iran "hard" following missile attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, reigniting a conflict across the Middle East that involves Washington's allies and Tehran-backed militias. This warning dashed hopes for a de-escalation that had held since Saturday, potentially disrupting renewed negotiations.

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As long as the threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue... resistance will continue.

The latest hostilities saw Saudi Arabia and the United States conduct airstrikes against armed groups in Iraq. These actions followed two days of drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The renewed fighting caused crude oil prices to jump more than 5% during the day on fears of disruptions to global supply, though the increase later moderated to around 4.6%.

Iran launched missiles at U.S. military bases in Jordan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated, "As long as the threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue... resistance will continue." In response, Trump declared he would "hit the Islamic Republic hard," according to a Fox News correspondent who spoke with the president.

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We are going to hit them hard. They are going to be beaten up.

The U.S. military stated its strike in Iraq targeted logistical and weapons sites of an Iran-aligned group, claiming coordination with Iraq. However, the Iraqi presidency denounced the bombings as "unacceptable and a flagrant violation of sovereignty." The Hashed al-Shaabi militia alliance reported that 20 of its members, including five Iranian advisors, were killed in the action, calling it a "dangerous escalation" against an "official security institution."

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unacceptable and a flagrant violation of sovereignty

Iraq finds itself an indirect battlefield for the U.S. and Iran, its main allies. Saudi security analyst Hesham Alghannam told AFP that Iran is "using its network of affiliated groups to maintain its influence while the diplomatic track captures international attention." He described the situation as "indirect warfare, the continuation of direct war by other means, and it is being carried out with considerable strategic coherence."

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dangerous escalation