Trump calls Iran a 'failed nation' as US-Iran tensions spike

US President Donald Trump has escalated his verbal assault on Iran, calling it a "Failed Nation" and declaring "IT IS DEAD!" in a post on Truth Social. He claimed Iran has lost its military edge, asserting it has "no Navy" and "no Air Force," and that its currency has collapsed. Trump also alleged that inflation in Iran has hit 300% and that Tehran is struggling to pay its soldiers and police, describing the leadership as in "total disarray."

The remarks came as Washington and Tehran exchanged fire for the first time in weeks, raising fears of renewed hostilities. The US said it struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday to prevent mining of the crucial shipping lane. Iranian state media reported three deaths and several wounded. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks on US targets in the region, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards claiming "heavy damage" at two US bases in Jordan. Trump, however, said US forces intercepted all but one missile, which was deemed non-threatening. Jordan said it intercepted eight missiles without identifying their origin. Iran also claimed to have shot down a US drone and targeted an air base in the UAE, but the UAE rejected the base claim as "baseless" while confirming a drone interception.

Despite the escalation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for diplomacy, saying "the solution to the existing problems is dialogue and cooperation." Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Washington to return to its commitments. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said economic pressure would continue, hinting at a turning point "within weeks or months."

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with Iran restricting traffic and the US maintaining a counter-blockade. Iran claimed an oil tanker hit mines near the strait, but the US military dismissed it as "disinformation." The UN called the exchange "very regrettable" and urged a return to diplomacy.