Trump says Iran war won't resume, then warns 'we'll hit 10x harder' as Tehran brands him 'criminal'

ANKARA, TURKEY: President Donald Trump delivered conflicting messages on the future of the Iran conflict on Wednesday, July 8, insisting he does not believe the war will restart even as he threatened to unleash another wave of military strikes "10 times harder" if Tehran attacks again.

The remarks drew a furious response from Iran, whose deputy foreign minister branded Trump a "criminal" and accused him of admitting that years of US pressure had failed to break the Islamic Republic.

The sharp exchange comes only weeks after a US-brokered ceasefire halted direct fighting between Washington and Tehran.

While Trump projected confidence that the conflict could end swiftly, both sides continued to trade threats, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

Trump predicts conflict will end

Speaking during a press conference in Ankara, Trump said he did not expect another full-scale conflict with Iran despite recent attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

"I don't think it's going to start again," Trump said. "I think it's going to go very quickly."

The president argued that previous US military responses had discouraged further escalation.

"When they hit, we hit 10 times harder," Trump said, adding that Washington's objective was not a prolonged conflict but restoring stability.

Trump also expressed confidence that regional tensions would ease quickly enough to protect global energy supplies, saying oil would soon become "very free" and markets would stabilize.

His remarks marked a softer tone than earlier in the day, when he declared the US memorandum of understanding with Iran was effectively "over."

Fresh military warning follows

Despite predicting the conflict would not resume, Trump stopped short of ruling out additional military action.

He warned that the United States could launch another major strike if Iran provoked Washington again, saying any future response could target significant infrastructure.

Trump also raised the possibility of restoring a naval blockade following recent Iranian-linked attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important energy routes.

The comments signaled that while diplomacy remains possible, the administration is keeping military options firmly on the table.

Iran fires back at Trump

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded within hours, accusing Trump of relying on threats because previous US pressure campaigns had failed.

Writing on X, Gharibabadi described Trump as a "criminal" and said his latest remarks reflected "the failure of a policy built for years on force, sanctions and threats."

"The criminal and murderous Trump should be spoken to in the language he understands," Gharibabadi wrote, arguing that Washington's strategy had failed to force Iran into submission.

The verbal clash represents the most direct exchange between the two sides since the ceasefire took effect and highlights the uncertainty surrounding the future of US-Iran relations.

Although Trump continues to express optimism that fighting will not resume, his latest warnings and Tehran's immediate response suggest tensions remain high despite the temporary pause in hostilities.