Trump plans major bombing of Iran

Donald Trump said Friday he was considering even heavier bombings on Iran, as conflict widens in the region with Saudi strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

American media reported Friday a meeting in the morning between the Republican president, increasingly frustrated by the stagnation of the situation, and his closest advisers to consider a large-scale military operation in Iran.

Donald Trump, however, told the press at the White House that he had not yet made a decision on this subject.

"We're actually talking to them right now," Trump said of Iran's leaders. “I think they are becoming more and more serious as the days go by, perhaps for an obvious reason,” he added, referring to the daily bombings that the United States has been carrying out on Iran for almost two weeks.

Iran has the choice between reaching an agreement with Washington or facing "a much worse level" of bombing, thundered the American president.

"We're ready, ready to go, but we're talking to them, so as long as we're talking... We'll see what comes out of it," he said.

Earlier, Iran for its part claimed to have again responded to American strikes with attacks against military installations used by the United States in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

“All necessary measures”

Iran considers any installation in the Middle East made available to the US military a legitimate target, and the Revolutionary Guards on Friday called on civilians in the Middle East to stay away from any site housing US forces.

“For every proud Iranian citizen of the Islamic Republic killed, an American soldier will be sent to hell,” threatened army chief Ali Abdollahi.

The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, affirmed that his country reserved the right to take “all necessary measures” against any country “participating, cooperating or assisting” the United States.

Since the resumption of the conflict between Tehran and Washington on July 7, clashes have focused around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global hydrocarbon trade.

But in recent days, the conflict has extended to the other side of the Arabian Peninsula: the Yemeni Houthis, allies of Tehran, have announced a blockade in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden targeting ships from Saudi Arabia, the world's leading exporter of crude.

A Saudi ship was hit again in the Red Sea on Friday, suffering minor damage, a Saudi transport official told state media.

In return, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Hodeida, a port controlled by the Houthis on the west coast of Yemen, rebel media announced on Friday, including a telecommunications building having been hit.

“Hope for peace”

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