The United States military carried out a 12th straight night of strikes against Iran early on Thursday, including the first use of B-1 long-range bombers in weeks, as Donald Trump warned that Tehran ‘haven’t received enough pain yet’.
The US president has repeatedly insisted that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, claiming the regime has ‘evil intentions’. “They’re not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon,” he said, hinting that Tehran wanted a deal but needed more pressure.
“Trump says Iran 'haven't received enough pain' as US strikes continue, despite House vote to end war.”
Earlier, Trump told Axios: “They haven’t received enough pain yet.” He has already threatened a “major military punishment” of Iran after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The attacks threaten to further disrupt oil supply as the Houthis warn they will cut off the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical oil waterway.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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.” He also threatened punishment for the Houthis, saying he is “very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart”.
But on the same day the strikes continued, the Republican-led US House of Representatives backed a resolution directing President Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he obtained Congress’ approval. The vote was 214-208 in favour of the war powers resolution, with four Republicans joining Democrats. However, the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure by 49-47. The House resolution was largely symbolic; lawmakers have passed similar resolutions repeatedly in recent months.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio claimed Iran is “begging for a deal” amid escalating tensions, while warning that Tehran will face intensifying US strikes “every night”. Trump echoed that sentiment, stating: “They need more of the same. They’re not ready yet.”
The president’s rhetoric and the ongoing military campaign signal that the conflict shows no sign of abating, despite Congressional efforts to rein in executive war powers.