US-Iran Crisis Escalates: Trump’s Threat of Annihilation & Retaliatory Strikes in the Gulf

US and Iranian forces exchange strikes in Gulf escalation as Trump warns Tehran after second shipping attack

US President Donald Trump threatened to “complete the job” against Iran on Tuesday, declaring the country “will no longer exist” if forced to act, following a series of retaliatory strikes and counterattacks between Washington and Tehran in the Gulf. The latest escalation came after the US conducted airstrikes on Iranian coastal facilities in response to a second suspected Iranian attack on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) then launched missiles targeting US allies Bahrain and Kuwait, marking the first direct strikes on Arab Gulf states since the 1991 Gulf War.

The US strikes, which the Pentagon confirmed targeted “facilities used for offensive Iranian actions,” were carried out by B-52 bombers and F-15E Strike Eagles, striking “multiple locations” in Iran’s southern province of Bushehr, a region hosting key nuclear and military infrastructure. The IRGC denied responsibility for the shipping attacks but confirmed its missiles struck Bahrain and Kuwait, killing at least three people, including a child, in Kuwait. Bahrain’s state news agency reported no casualties but described the attacks as “aggressive acts” violating its sovereignty.

Trump’s warning—delivered during a White House press conference—came hours after the US strikes and followed a July 19 attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which the US attributed to Iran. The second attack, on July 29, targeted a Japanese-owned vessel, further straining tensions in a region already on edge after the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in January 2020. The White House did not specify whether Trump’s threat was a direct reference to military action, though his phrasing echoed past rhetoric during the Soleimani operation.

Why the strikes matter: A breakdown of the Gulf’s flashpoints

The latest exchange follows a pattern of tit-for-tat attacks between the US and Iran since the Soleimani strike, but the targeting of Bahrain and Kuwait marks a significant escalation. Unlike past incidents—the downing of a US drone in June 2019 or the sabotage of oil tankers in May 2019—the current strikes directly implicate US allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

According to the BBC, the IRGC’s missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait were conducted using ballistic missiles, a departure from its previous use of drones or proxy forces. The attacks came despite Iran’s repeated denials of involvement in the shipping incidents, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi calling the US strikes “a clear violation of international law.” The US, however, cited “credible evidence” linking Iran to both attacks, including recovered debris and intelligence assessments.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa condemned the IRGC strikes as “unacceptable aggression,” while Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah called for an emergency GCC meeting to address the threat. The GCC has yet to issue a joint statement, but sources familiar with the matter told Al Jazeera that member states are divided over whether to seek UN Security Council intervention or pursue unilateral responses.

What happens next: Diplomatic deadlock and military posturing

The US has not confirmed whether it will respond further to the IRGC strikes, though Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman stated that “all options remain on the table.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the US strikes as “psychological warfare,” while IRGC Commander Hossein Salami warned of “harsh retaliation” if US forces persisted in their “aggressive actions.”

Analysts note that the current standoff mirrors the 2020 escalation following Soleimani’s killing, when Iran launched a ballistic missile strike on US bases in Iraq—an attack that killed no Americans but drew sharp condemnation from Washington. This time, however, the involvement of GCC states complicates the calculus, as Bahrain and Kuwait rely on US military protection under defense agreements.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also expressed concern over the strikes’ impact on Iran’s nuclear program, with a spokesperson stating that “any military action near nuclear facilities must be avoided to prevent unintended consequences.” The IAEA’s warning underscores the risk of accidental escalation, particularly as Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment capabilities in recent months.

How the US and Iran frame the conflict: A divide in narratives

While the US portrays the strikes as defensive measures against Iranian aggression, Tehran frames them as part of a broader US campaign to destabilize the region. Iranian state media described the US airstrikes as “genocidal,” while Trump’s threat of annihilation was widely criticized by European diplomats as “reckless.” The UK Foreign Office called for “de-escalation,” while French President Emmanuel Macron urged both sides to “avoid further provocation.”

Yet on the ground, the situation remains volatile. The US has deployed additional naval assets to the Gulf, including the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, while Iran has mobilized its Basij militia and Revolutionary Guard units along its southern coast. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains a flashpoint, with commercial vessels advised to exercise “heightened caution.”

The next critical juncture will likely hinge on whether Iran escalates further—or whether the US opts for a limited response to avoid a wider conflict. For now, the region braces for uncertainty, with no clear path to de-escalation in sight.