US and Iran have exchanged fire in a renewed flare-up, with President Trump threatening to 'hit Iran hard' after Tehran targeted US bases in Jordan in response to an assault on its Larak Island.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- Iran targeted US bases in Jordan after an assault on its Larak Island.
- President Trump threatened further US action as hostilities resumed.
- The flare-up coincides with this week's G20 meeting.
- The EU said it will work with the US and allies to maintain economic pressure on Iran.
- The US pressure strategy is described as Operation Economic Outcast.
President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will ‘hit Iran hard’ as hostilities between the two countries resumed in a new flare-up, according to the Guardian. The renewed exchange of fire follows an assault on Iran’s Larak Island, to which Tehran responded by targeting US bases in Jordan.
The Guardian reported that Trump threatened further action as US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the latest escalation. The sequence of events—an assault on Larak Island followed by Iranian strikes on US bases in Jordan—marks a significant intensification of tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The flare-up coincides with this week’s G20 meeting, drawing international attention to the confrontation at a moment when world leaders are gathered. The timing places the crisis squarely on the agenda of major economies.
Against this backdrop, the European Union issued a statement saying it would work with the United States and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure against Iran. The EU said it ‘welcomes efforts at ensuring that Iran ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations with good faith, also through additional economic pressure.’
The EU statement referenced the US-led ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ the pressure strategy the White House describes as ‘an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining’ the Islamic republic. The coordinated stance signals continued transatlantic alignment on squeezing Iran economically alongside the military developments.
The Guardian’s live coverage tracked the developments as they unfolded, noting the exchange of fire and Trump’s threats of further action. The situation remained fluid as the report was published.
Why it matters
A direct exchange of fire between the US and Iran, including strikes on US bases in Jordan, raises the risk of a wider regional conflict. With the escalation coinciding with the G20 and coordinated EU-US economic pressure, the crisis carries significant implications for global diplomacy and energy markets.
Frequently asked questions
What triggered the latest US-Iran flare-up?
According to the Guardian, Iran responded to an assault on its Larak Island by targeting US bases in Jordan, prompting Trump to threaten further action as the two sides exchanged fire.
What is Operation Economic Outcast?
It is a US-led pressure strategy that the White House describes as an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining Iran. The EU said it would work with the US and allies to maintain this economic pressure.
How has the EU responded?
The EU issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure on Iran and welcomed efforts to press Iran toward peace negotiations.
Timeline
- ‘Hit them hard’: Does Trump have another ‘new’ Iran strategy, can it work?
Al Jazeera: Trump signals harsher response as US-Iran hostilities escalate, raising fears of prolonged conflict in the Gulf region.
- Trump says US will ‘hit Iran hard’ as hostilities resume – as it happened
The Guardian World: Iran responded to an assault on its Larak Island by targeting US bases in Jordan Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up Coinciding with this week’s G20 meeting , the EU has issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied co