Trump warns Iran faces two-decade recovery as Gulf strikes widen
Diplomatic channels remain open through Pakistan despite Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, and threats from Houthi allies to blockade Saudi ports.
US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the United States was “not finished” attacking Iran, warning that Tehran would require 20 to 25 years to recover from the damage inflicted during the conflict. The declaration came as the war escalated, with Iranian forces launching strikes on several Gulf states and Houthi allies threatening to blockade Saudi ports. Trump told reporters at the White House that an immediate withdrawal would allow Iran to rebuild within that timeframe, asserting, “We’re not finished at all... we’re not leaving right now.”
The escalation followed reports of Iranian attacks on Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards confirmed a strike on Jordan, targeting a complex housing US forces in the Rukban region, while the Iranian army claimed it had targeted US assets in Kuwait and Bahrain, including air defence systems and radar installations. Kuwait reported that power and desalination plants had been hit over several days, forcing residents to ration energy, while Bahrain intercepted strikes as sirens sounded repeatedly.
Military costs for the United States have risen sharply, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth telling US senators that the war had cost $37.5 billion so far, an increase from nearly $29 billion estimated in mid-May. The Pentagon reported that 17 US service members have been killed and nearly 100 wounded since the conflict resumed on July 7. Trump also pledged support to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for efforts to disarm Hezbollah and move towards peace with Israel during a White House meeting.
Regional security concerns intensified as Trump warned he would “take care of” Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels if they enforced a threat to blockade Saudi Arabia’s ports. Maritime intelligence provider Vanguard Tech reported that a Singapore-flagged tanker and a Liberia-flagged tanker reversed course in the Red Sea after loading crude at the Saudi port of Yanbu. Additionally, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that an “unknown projectile” struck a tanker off the coast of Oman.
Despite the fighting, diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Tehran continued through mediators. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that talks were ongoing, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for restraint during a meeting with Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Sharif urged all sides to refrain from actions that could further destabilise the region, even as the conflict continued to disrupt commercial shipping and strain regional infrastructure.
