Trump says Iran will face consequences amid escalating tensions

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account early Wednesday to warn that Iran would "pay the price" for not agreeing to a peace arrangement with the United States. He claimed that Iran's military capabilities have been severely degraded and described the country's naval and air forces as largely non-existent. Trump added that the U.S. naval blockade around Iran is effective and that "nothing gets through unless we want it to."

The remarks came after an Iranian military unit shot down a U.S. Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, prompting the United States to strike Iranian air-defense installations, ground-control stations and radar sites. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

In a subsequent post, Trump asserted that the war was progressing well and criticized the media for not reporting on the blockade's impact. He concluded the message with the phrase "Praise be to Allah," a statement he has previously included in posts about Iran.

"What happened last night demonstrated that Iran’s brave armed forces do not hesitate when it comes to defending the country," said Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that a peace deal with Iran is imminent, stating on multiple occasions that an agreement could be reached within hours or days. Analysts note that despite these claims, the recent exchange of fire indicates the conflict remains unresolved.