Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Trump Says Iran War May End Soon Despite Fresh Strikes
The United States and Iran are fighting in a war that began on February 28.
The United States said it attacked Iranian military equipment near the Strait of Hormuz.
It said the targets included radar, air-defence, communications and mine-laying systems.
President Donald Trump said the US could attack again whenever it wanted.
He also said he thought the war might end soon.
Iran said the attacks hit civilian places and reported that 18 people were killed and 108 were wounded.
Iran also said it attacked American bases in several Middle Eastern countries.
The United States said it was checking reports of civilian deaths and does not target civilians.
The United Nations urged both countries to stop fighting and return to talks.
US forces struck Iranian air-defence, radar, maritime, communications and mine-laying facilities near the Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump said the United States could launch more attacks at any time but suggested the war may end soon.
Iran condemned the strikes and said an attack on a wedding celebration killed 18 people and wounded 108.
Iran claimed retaliatory attacks on US positions in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
The United Nations called for an immediate halt to military action and a return to diplomacy.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, US forces, Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian armed forces and the United Nations.
- What
- The United States and Iran exchanged attacks during an escalating conflict, while Trump said the fighting may end soon.
- When
- The war began on February 28; the latest US strikes occurred overnight before Trump’s Wednesday remarks.
- Where
- US strikes targeted Iranian facilities near the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere; Iran reported attacks on US positions across the Middle East.
- Why
- The United States said its strikes followed attempted IRGC attacks on commercial shipping and American personnel, while Iran said it was defending itself against violations of its sovereignty.
United States Account
Iranian Account
Reason for the strikes
United States Account
The United States said it attacked after attempted IRGC assaults on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on American service members.
Iranian Account
Iran said Washington violated its sovereignty, committed war crimes and breached international law, and described its own military actions as self-defence.
Nature of the targets
United States Account
CENTCOM said the operation targeted Iranian military facilities, including radar, air-defence, maritime, communications and mine-laying systems.
Iranian Account
Iran accused the United States of hitting civilian sites, service infrastructure and public and private property, including a wedding celebration.
Casualties and retaliation
United States Account
CENTCOM said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties and maintained that the US military does not target civilians; the US account did not confirm Iranian claims about American casualties.
Iranian Account
Iran reported 18 deaths and 108 injuries in the strikes and claimed attacks on US bases across the region, though those retaliation claims lacked independent confirmation in the provided material.
- Conflict start
- The war began on February 28.
- US targets
- US Central Command said the strikes hit Iranian air-defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, communications facilities and mine-laying capabilities.
- Strait of Hormuz
- Trump said US forces had very strong control of the waterway, were clearing mines and were allowing oil-carrying vessels to pass.
- Iranian casualty report
- Iranian Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi said 18 people were killed and 108 wounded; earlier Iranian reports cited at least four deaths and dozens wounded.
- Civilian-casualty allegations
- Iran alleged that an American strike hit a wedding celebration in Sirik County; CENTCOM said it was examining the reports and never targets civilians.
- Reported Iranian retaliation
- The IRGC said it attacked US bases or assets in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq’s Kurdistan region, but the claims lacked independent confirmation in the material provided.
- International response
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate halt to military action and a return to diplomacy.
