Trump warns Iran of more strikes if ‘peace does not come quickly’

In a speech lasting barely four minutes from the White House, Donald Trump on Saturday night hailed the U.S. attack on Iran in the way he tends to celebrate everything. He described the U.S. intervention in the Middle East conflict as the greatest and most “spectacular” strike ever remembered. “There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight,” said the president.

The Republican portrayed the attack as a closed chapter, citing the destruction of Iran’s facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and issued a warning to Iran in case of retaliation. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace […] If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” the president warned, flanked by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The president who came to power promising not to get involved in foreign wars has, in just five months, launched an attack whose consequences — beyond Trump’s statements — remain unknown.

Just a day earlier, he had given himself a two-week deadline to make a decision on a possible U.S. intervention. These sudden strikes, made on the basis of rushed decisions, have already become his style of governance. “We love you, God, and we love our great military,” he declared jubilantly.

In his address to the nation, Trump explained that he had long ago decided he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and claimed that the three facilities had been “totally obliterated.” Iran’s response remains to be seen. Tehran has consistently denied developing nuclear weapons, as Israel alleges. On June 13, Israel launched a first strike on Iranian soil. Since then, the two countries have been trading attacks daily.

Trump, who received congratulations from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke as if tonight’s attack marked the end of a decades-long conflict: “For 40 years, Iran has been saying, ‘Death to America, death to Israel.’” In a recorded message, the Israeli Prime Minister declared: “History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”

But only Trump and Netanyahu have praised the attack, which has shocked the world. Criticism of the intervention began to surface shortly after Trump’s remarks. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed that he was “deeply alarmed.” “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” he said on social media.

Even within the ranks of the MAGA movement, there have been voices in recent days sharply critical of the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran. From former Fox News star host Tucker Carlson to key Trumpist strategist Steve Bannon, a faction within the Republican Party believes that involvement in the conflict alongside Israel contradicts the president’s core electoral principle — “America First” — and imposes an additional burden on taxpayers.

Several Latin American presidents have also been among the first to voice their rejection. Gabriel Boric from Chile, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, and Iran’s regional allies, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Venezuelan government, have all opposed the actions.

On Sunday morning, the heads of the U.S. Armed Forces are expected to hold a press conference about the operation.

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