Iran-US war latest: Tehran threatens Trump with ‘painful strikes’ amid reports US preparing fresh attacks

Full report – Stressed Trump’s stark warning on Iran: ‘If and when do I blow the entire nation up?’

Donald Trump once again issued a grave threat to destroy the “entire country” of Iran during a phone call with a Fox News reporter on Sunday.

The president told Fox’s Trey Yingst that for him, the “question” was “if and when” it would be required to “blow the entire nation up” if Iran’s government did not submit to his demands.

It’s at least the second time the president has directly threatened to target Iran for widespread carnage, presumably affecting civilians. U.S. forces have already been criticized for strikes that have hit civilian areas, including a girls’ school in Minab in February, which killed 120 school children.

It comes as the president is facing staggeringly low polling on the war itself and is watching both his own popularity and the Republican Party’s sink like a stone as a result. A Fox News poll out this weekend found that 71 percent of Americans think that Trump lacks a plan to end the war altogether and new escalating conflicts between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia threaten to further disrupt the region.

The Independent’s Washington correspondent John Bowden reports:

Alex Croft20 September 2026 17:14

Strait of Hormuz crisis could delay QatarEnergy expansion projects, says CEO

The crisis over the Strait of Hormuz could delay some QatarEnergy expansion projects because critical equipment is unable to reach Qatar, its CEO Saad al-Kaabi said on Sunday.

He said that QatarEnergy was currently producing only a “very minute” volume of liquefied natural gas.

A few LNG trains under QatarEnergy’s North Field East (NFE) expansion are due to start up in 2027, with the North Field South (NFS) expansion set to begin production in 2028, Kaabi said at the Qatar Economic Forum in New York.

Alex Croft20 September 2026 16:34

‘When do I blow the whole nation up?’ Trump warns he is in ‘deciding mode’ about Iran war

President Trump has said he is in “deciding mode” about his next step with Iran, including whether he wants to “blow the whole nation up”, according to reports.

The US president told Fox News chief foreign correspondent that “very big things” are going to happen in the near future regarding Iran.

CIA chief visits Egypt and meets with its president

Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe was in Egypt meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, the president’s office said.

The statement said el-Sissi expressed support for a deal to resolve the Iranian crisis and ensure the freedom of shipping navigation.

He also rejected any aggression against Arab countries.

Last week, Egypt’s president hosted Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, who was seeking support against attacks by neighboring Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

El-Sissi also urged for the full implementation of the second phase of the U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza. Egypt has been a key mediator and borders the Palestinian territory.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 15:20

Watch: Trump says high cost of gas is ‘a very inexpensive price to pay’ for Iran warTrump says high cost of gas is ‘a very inexpensive priceto pay’ for Iran war

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 15:00

Iran threatens Trump with ‘painful strikes’ amid reports US preparing fresh attacks

Iran has warned the US and Middle East regions they will be targeted by “painful strikes” if they make “any mistake”.

Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters were responding to the latest intelligence that Washington has decided to resume actions against Tehran, with the backing of certain regional countries.

It warned that if the United States makes any mistake against Iran, all its bases and interests in the region would be targeted by “continuous, effective and painful strikes without any limitation or reservation.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 14:53

Iran war’s cost grows to $43.6 billion in new US military estimate

The U.S. military’s price tag for the Iran war has grown to $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3, according to a new estimate provided this week to lawmakers.

The figure from U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, offers the most up-to-date cost for the conflict since it was launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.

A Congressional Budget Office report released Tuesday said the war had cost $38 billion through Aug. 1 and will continue to rack up expenses of around $3 billion a month depending on the conflict’s intensity.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 14:30

Six French accused of being members of the Islamic State stand trial in Iraq

Six French nationals in Iraq suspected of being members of the extremist Islamic State group have stood trial, Iraqi judicial and security officials told The Associated Press.

The officials, who said it could take several proceedings before a verdict is issued, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak with the media.

The six are among 47 French nationals held in Iraq who were part of thousands of people with suspected links to the IS, and who were repatriated from neighboring Syria early this year.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 14:00

Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile

Saudi Arabia on Saturday confirmed that Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile, the first targeting of Riyadh since the escalation in fighting with the Tehran-backed rebels that has opened a new front in the Iran war.

The statement by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis came long after the dawn attempt, which the coalition said was intercepted. Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion. Later, some saw a plume of smoke near the airport. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu — where a key Saudi pipeline ends — and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 13:30

Arab and Muslim nations condemn Houthi attack on Riyadh

Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait said the Houthi attack on Riyadh was a threat to regional security and stability and a violation of international law.

The nations in separate statements said their governments stand with Saudi Arabia in support of its sovereignty and protection of its civilians.

The Muslim World League also condemned the attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure as a violation of “all religious values as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.”

It was the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted since the escalation in fighting with the Iran-backed rebels opened a new front in the Iran war.

Saudi Arabia said the attack was intercepted.

Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport.

There were no reports of casualties or damage.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 September 2026 13:10