Trump Warns of Expanded US Strikes on Iran as Middle East Conflict Escalates

Washington, March 2026 : Donald Trump on Saturday warned that the United States could expand its military targets inside Iran as the rapidly escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran entered its second week.

The warning came hours after Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a televised apology to neighbouring Gulf nations affected by Iranian missile strikes during the conflict, even as he firmly rejected demands from Washington for unconditional surrender.

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump signalled the possibility of broader military action against Iran, saying additional targets were now being considered because of what he described as Tehran’s “bad behaviour”.

“Today, Iran will be hit very hard,” Trump wrote. “Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.”

The US President did not elaborate on what new targets might be included or whether additional military operations were imminent.

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Pezeshkian delivered a televised address in which he expressed regret over Iranian attacks that had affected neighbouring Gulf countries during the widening conflict.

“I should apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” Pezeshkian said in his message.

He emphasised that Iran did not intend to target nearby states unless it was first attacked by them, and called for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.

“From now on, they should not attack neighbouring countries or fire missiles at them unless we are attacked by those countries,” he said. “I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

Despite his conciliatory tone toward regional neighbours, the Iranian president firmly rejected Trump’s demand that Iran surrender without conditions.

“The idea that we would surrender unconditionally is a dream that our enemies will take to the grave,” Pezeshkian said.

Since the conflict erupted, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes targeting several Gulf states that host American military facilities. The attacks have struck or threatened locations in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

Earlier on Saturday, Qatar’s Defence Ministry said its armed forces successfully intercepted missiles aimed at the country. Authorities reported that air defence systems were activated as projectiles approached Qatari airspace.

Iran’s apology to neighbouring countries reportedly followed consultations between the country’s temporary leadership council and senior military commanders. Officials said the discussions were held amid confusion within the command structure after the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other top leaders earlier in the conflict.

Despite Pezeshkian’s call for diplomacy, military operations across the region continued to intensify.

The Israeli military said its forces carried out a “broad-scale wave of strikes” overnight targeting sites across Tehran and other parts of central Iran. Iranian media reported explosions near the city’s Mehrabad International Airport, suggesting possible strikes on nearby military installations.

Israel also expanded its operations in neighbouring Lebanon, targeting positions linked to the Iran-backed militant organisation Hezbollah.

The rapidly widening conflict has now spread across several countries in the Middle East, raising fears of a broader regional war and disrupting transportation and energy infrastructure across the Gulf region.

Air travel in the region has already been affected. Authorities at Dubai International Airport briefly suspended operations earlier after missile and drone interceptions were reported across the Gulf.

The conflict has also resulted in casualties among US forces stationed in the region. Later on Saturday, Trump is expected to travel to Dover Air Force Base to attend a dignified transfer ceremony for six American service members killed in the fighting.

The troops were killed in an Iranian drone strike on a tactical operations centre in Kuwait, according to US officials.

The war began after joint US-Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military facilities and leadership positions. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel, American military assets and several Gulf states hosting US bases.

Since then, the confrontation has steadily expanded, drawing in multiple actors across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and allied militia groups operating in several Middle Eastern countries.

With military operations intensifying and diplomatic efforts yet to gain traction, international observers have warned that the conflict could escalate further, potentially destabilising the broader Middle East.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)