Trump Warns of Another 'Epic Fury' Strike on Iran as Tehran Vows 'Apocalyptic War' Response

United States President Donald Trump has threatened fresh strikes on Iran, warning of another round of attacks under the "Epic Fury" campaign name if Tehran fails to agree to a deal, while Iran has responded by vowing an "apocalyptic war" and a response "several times greater" than any new attack.

The sharp exchange, unfolding on Saturday as Washington and Tehran traded warnings, has raised the prospect of renewed escalation in a war now in its eighth month, with oil prices already at a six-month high and Gulf shipping routes under strain.

Main News Report

Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Friday, Mr Trump said the United States could launch another round of attacks if negotiations with Tehran failed. "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," he said, according to Fox News. "If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.'"

The remarks followed comments by Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkiye, who said on Friday that a strike on Iran was possible as soon as this weekend. PakInsight Hub reported Mr Barrack's warning earlier on Saturday, in which he said Washington remained open to a deal but that continued threats against US allies and the Gulf region would trigger consequences.

Asked about Mr Barrack's remarks, Mr Trump played down the possibility of an imminent strike, saying he knew nothing about it. He had previously indicated that major action would not take place before the US congressional elections on 3 November, leaving uncertainty over whether Washington is changing its timing.

Iran's response came on Saturday. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that if attacked, Iran "will achieve absolute victory in this apocalyptic war", according to state-run Press TV, as reported by The Hindu. He added that the war would "decide the fate" of other nations in the region, referring to the Persian Gulf monarchies.

In a separate statement, Major General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, said US naval forces were no longer capable of approaching the Persian Gulf. "The US President must only dream of their military and army entering the Persian Gulf again. They will take this wish to their graves," he said. "We will under no circumstances and at no time allow rusty US military vessels to enter the Persian Gulf."

The IRGC went further, warning that even limited military action would draw a response "several times greater", according to the Fars news agency. Spokesman Mohebbi dismissed what he called "hostile rhetoric" as largely intended for the media, saying those making threats lacked the ability to conduct an effective operation under current circumstances.

Background Context

The conflict began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February 2026 and has since spread across West Asia, drawing in regional actors and Iranian-backed groups. In the first and second phases of the war, Iran retaliated by striking US bases and energy facilities in Gulf kingdoms.

The United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, cutting off oil exports, Iran's major source of revenue. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to much traffic, although US officials have claimed in recent weeks that a southern transit route through the strait, protected by the US Navy, remains open for commercial shipping.

This week, Iran claimed seven tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz in a single day, and Iranian officials have warned in recent days that they would retaliate by targeting Persian Gulf countries in the event of renewed attacks. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary General of Iran's Security Council, told Press TV last week that fibre optic cables in the Gulf carrying internet traffic could be targeted if Iran is attacked.

Two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters that Tehran had drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the US and Israel launched further attacks, with one official saying Iran could seek to delay repairs to prolong disruption. Analysts told Reuters that damage to the cables could slow internet services and disrupt banking, online commerce and cloud computing in the Gulf.

Reactions and Statements

Mr Trump's warning drew an immediate response from Tehran, where military commanders framed any new attack as a test of national survival. "Preserving the country's territorial integrity and safeguarding its national and religious identity are among the most important responsibilities of the Iranian nation today," General Mohebbi said in Tehran.

Mr Barrack, who also serves as Washington's point man on Syria, said potential US action would not aim to overthrow Iran's government, citing concerns about the "day-two scenario" following such an operation. His position differs from that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called for the removal of Iran's clerical regime ahead of Israel's election on 27 October.

US media has reported that Washington and Israel have developed plans to strike Iran after the American midterm elections, while Gulf News reported that additional US military assets, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and another Marine Expeditionary Unit, are moving to the Middle East alongside heightened Israeli military readiness.

Why This News Matters

For Pakistan, the escalation carries direct economic consequences. Brent crude rose by as much as 3.8 per cent to $117.45 a barrel during trading in New York on Friday before settling at $116.72, a six-month high, with prices up more than 10 per cent this month. PakInsight Hub reported earlier on Saturday that the rally had already pushed Pakistan's fuel costs higher, with diesel raised to Rs393.66 per litre for 24–26 October.

Analysts warn that crude could quickly reach about $150 a barrel if the conflict escalated and caused extensive damage to critical oil infrastructure, a scenario that would feed directly into Pakistan's import bill, inflation and the government's fuel pricing decisions.

The war has also spilled into the wider region. Saudi air defences intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh earlier on Saturday, and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified in recent days, prompting Washington to order some diplomatic staff out of the kingdom.

Future Developments

Attention now turns to the weekend and to the days after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Mr Barrack's warning that a strike could come "as soon as this weekend" keeps the immediate risk elevated, even as Mr Trump has publicly distanced himself from that timetable.

Diplomatic efforts have yet to produce a breakthrough after months of negotiations, and with Israel's election on 27 October and the US midterms a week later, both governments face political calendars that could sharpen, or delay, decisions on escalation. Any renewed strike, or any Iranian retaliation against Gulf states, shipping or undersea cables, would mark a further dangerous turn in a conflict that has already reshaped the region's security and energy landscape.

Sources

• The Indian Express — Trump warns of another Iran strike; Tehran threatens Gulf internet cables
• The Hindu — Iran warns of 'apocalyptic war' if attacked again
• A News — Iran warns of response 'several times greater' to any military action
• Times Now — Oil hits $117, highest since April, as Trump hints at fresh Iran strikes

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