'Iran Not Winning, But Can Still Launch Attacks': Trump Warns As Tensions Flare Again In West Asia

Published 27 June 2026 · world

'Iran Not Winning, But Can Still Launch Attacks': Trump Warns As Tensions Flare Again In West Asia Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 07:38

'Iran Not Winning, But Can Still Launch Attacks': Trump Warns As Tensions Flare Again In West Asia Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 07:38 IST Trump said although Iran was no longer in a winning position, it remained capable of carrying out fresh attacks. US President Donald Trump. (AFP/File) As the US and Iran traded fresh strikes on Friday, further straining the fragile Middle East ceasefire, President Donald Trump said American military action had prevented a prolonged conflict but warned that Iran still possessed capability to strike back. Speaking about the latest developments, Trump said that if Washington had not acted, the conflict would have continued. He added that although Iran was no longer in a winning position, it remained capable of carrying out attacks. “They still have some capability—not much. They’re not winning, but they can still launch attacks," Trump said. Referring to an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, he said Iran launched four drones at a large ship entering the strategic waterway. According to Trump, US forces intercepted three of the drones, but one managed to hit the vessel and caused damage. “They fired four drones at a large ship entering the Strait of Hormuz. We shot down three of them. One got through and struck the ship, causing some damage. They shouldn’t be able to do that," he said. Iran issues fresh warning to Washington Even as Trump defended the US action, Iran’s Supreme Leader’s military adviser Mohsen Rezaei warned that any renewed conflict would result in heavy American casualties.

“We will introduce new capabilities to the arena, and Trump should know that this time he will suffer widespread casualties," Rezaei said. “If the enemy makes a mistake, the next war will not be like the previous one." The remarks appeared to signal that Iran believes a second round of fighting would come at a greater cost for the United States than the first. Rezaei did not explain what he meant by Iran’s “new capabilities", leaving the warning deliberately vague. Iran’s message to Gulf countries In another post on X, Ebrahim Maziz warned leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) against relying on the United States for security. “Warning for GCC leaders: outsourcing your security has made you less secure. You have seen how US military bases in your countries have turned into a source of threat instead of providing security," he wrote. He added that Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, along with its control over the Strait of Hormuz, remained “serious red lines". “The only reliable path to regional security is to distance yourselves from the U.S.," the post said. US and Iran exchange strikes The latest statements came after the United States and Iran exchanged military strikes following Washington’s accusation that Tehran had attacked a cargo ship, putting a fragile ceasefire under pressure as diplomatic efforts continued to contain the Middle East war. US Central Command said its strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites as well as coastal radar positions.