Trump vows to 'hit Iran hard' as he pivots from de-escalation
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Sean Mathews
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Wed, 06/10/2026 - 18:14
The US president said Iran is playing the US for 'suckers' as he laments inability to reach Iran deal on his terms
US President Donald Trump speaks during a 'Secure America Act' signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 10 June 2026 (Ken Cedeno/AFP)
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President Donald Trump said the US is going to launch fresh attacks on Iran “today”, complaining that the Islamic Republic is “playing us for suckers” on a deal to end the war.
“We hit ’em hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit ’em again hard today,” Trump told reporters in the White House on Wednesday, shortly after Iran and the US exchanged fire in the biggest threat to a months-old ceasefire.
“We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers,” Trump added.
Trump’s vow to ramp up the fighting came as a Qatari delegation arrived in Iran. The visit is seen by diplomats and analysts as an effort to keep peace talks alive. Trump said that Pakistan is also continuing to mediate.
Fighting has ebbed and flowed for two weeks now, as the fragile ceasefire that Iran and the US agreed to in April limps along without a wider cessation of hostilities.
Renewed fighting began last week after the US attacked Iranian islands and military installations. Iran responded by targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.
In a switch, the US then intervened to stop fighting between Iran and Israel, which was sparked by Israeli attacks on Beirut. Iran insists that any deal to end the war includes Lebanon, where its close ally, Hezbollah, is fighting Israel.
“I call the shots. I call all the shots. [Netanyahu] doesn’t,” Trump told The Financial Times on Sunday, after he stopped an Israeli attack on Iran. He said Israel “won’t have a choice” but to accept a ceasefire he reaches with Iran.
But by Wednesday, Trump had pivoted back to escalation.
"Iran is all talk and no action," he said. "They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!”
Trump also said that Iran should move on with signing a deal, suggesting talks were at an advanced stage. “They have agreed to not having a nuclear weapon, all they have to do is sign the paper”.
Rubio to visit Bahrain and reassure Gulf ally amid Iran war, sources say
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The fighting sent oil prices higher. Brent was trading up almost three percent at $94.11 per barrel.
Oil and gas shipments from the Gulf have ground to a halt amid the war. But Trump boasted on Wednesday that "millions of barrels of oil" were being shipped out of the Gulf at night.
"Now I'm going to tell you because they [Iran] just figured it out," he said.
Trump did not provide any data to back up his claim, but some news reports do suggest that Iraq and Gulf states have been able to increase their shipments.
Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Iraqi oil exiting the Strait of Hormuz or loading at the country’s southern port of Basra has hit about seven million barrels so far this month. The UAE has also increased exports by sending vessels through Hormuz with their identification transponders off.
Rubio visit to Bahrain planned
The latest round of fighting appeared to be sparked by Iran’s downing of a US Apache attack helicopter on Tuesday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to acknowledge the attack in a social media post, but suggested it was the result of forces operating in close proximity.
Iran and the US are both competing for control of the Strait of Hormuz with rival blockades, and each has fired on vessels they say are breaching their terms in the area.
US Central Command said it conducted "a proportional response" to the downing of the aircraft by targeting air defence systems, ground control stations and radar sites.
Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at US bases in Bahrain and Jordan.
Trump has vacillated between saying a peace deal with Iran is at hand and threatening new military action against a country whose military he has often described as "obliterated".
Trump said on Tuesday that the US and Iran were “two or three days” away from a “very good deal” to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle East Eye revealed on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning a visit to Bahrain, a US Gulf ally which has been on the front lines of Iranian retaliation for US attacks. While the trip could be cancelled, it would unlikely be planned if a fresh offensive was anticipated.
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