Trump threatens another military operation against Iran

US President Donald Trump has threatened another military operation against Iran, warning that Washington could resume strikes as the conflict approaches its eighth month and rising fuel prices put pressure on American voters. Speaking at an election rally in Florida on Friday, Trump invoked the US military's name for the campaign against Iran, saying, 'We may do another little Epic Fury.' He did not provide further details about what such an operation would involve. Trump's latest warning came as he offered mixed signals about how and when the war might end. Earlier on Friday, he said the United States could bring the conflict to a quick conclusion but questioned whether Washington should pursue an immediate end or allow the war to gradually wind down. In recent campaign remarks, Trump has repeatedly suggested the war would end soon, saying it would conclude 'one way or the other'. His objectives and timelines for ending the conflict have shifted throughout the campaign. Earlier this month, Trump said the United States would not launch another attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. The elections will determine control of Congress, where his Republican Party holds narrow majorities in both chambers. Trump also insisted that Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. He claimed that US military action had dismantled Iran's military, air force and navy, adding that the country had been weakened both militarily and economically. He described Iran as being in a dire condition because of what he called 'Operation Economic Fury' in some of his remarks, while also referring to the US campaign as 'Operation Epic Fury'. Trump said oil prices would fall once the war ended. Iran prepares wider retaliation if fighting resumes The threat of renewed US military action has been accompanied by warnings from Tehran that any resumption of the war would trigger a broader response. Iranian officials have said the country has prepared detailed plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the United States and Israel attack again. Two senior Iranian security officials said Tehran was considering the infrastructure as part of its potential retaliation. The warning adds another dimension to the conflict, which has already disrupted energy markets and raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure across the region. The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with strikes against Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases, while US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed thousands of people and displaced millions. The conflict has also pushed oil and gas prices higher around the world, adding to economic pressures as American voters prepare to head to the polls. Strait of Hormuz blockade remains in place During the Florida rally, Trump said the blockade involving the Strait of Hormuz remained in place and claimed the United States was receiving millions of barrels of oil daily through the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial route for global energy shipments, making its status a major concern for oil markets and countries dependent on Gulf supplies. Trump argued that the war's end would bring down oil prices, linking the conflict's eventual conclusion to relief for consumers facing higher fuel costs. He also declared that Iran was 'finished in every respect' and repeated his claim that the US military was the most powerful in the world. Trump says Cuba will be next after Iran Trump also turned his attention to Cuba, saying the United States would address the country after dealing with Iran. He did not provide details about what action Washington might take. The president also claimed that the US stock market was at an all-time high. Trump used the rally to promote tariffs as a central part of his foreign and economic policy, claiming he had helped end eight wars, five of them through tariffs. He described using tariffs to prevent conflicts as an honour and said the measures had made America wealthy. Trump also warned that removing tariffs would cause factories to leave the United States. The president linked his tariff strategy to the conflict between Pakistan and India, repeating his claim that he helped stop a war between the two nuclear-armed countries by threatening trade penalties. Trump said he had told Pakistan and India to stop fighting or face restrictions on trade with the United States. He claimed he threatened to impose tariffs of 250% on both countries, arguing that such high rates would prevent others from doing business with them. He also claimed that 11 aircraft were shot down during the Pakistan-India conflict. His remarks presented tariffs as a key tool he said had helped avert further escalation between the two countries. Trump says Russia-Ukraine war could end soon Trump also expressed optimism about the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the conflict might end soon. He repeated his claim that he had brought an end to eight wars, presenting the record as evidence of his ability to resolve international disputes. His comments came as he weighed whether to seek a swift conclusion to the war with Iran or allow it to wind down gradually. Turning to domestic politics, Trump criticised Democrats for fielding what he described as extremist candidates in the upcoming elections. He urged Florida voters to support his party's candidate. Trump also launched a personal attack on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, saying she should resign from Congress immediately. He referred to Omar's Somali origins and described Somalia as a country plagued by piracy, crime and shootings.