Trump threatens, Tehran hits back: Iran war edges towards another flare-up

A day after US President Donald Trump confirmed fresh, limited strikes against Iran, targeting an air-defence system on Qeshm Island, Tehran issued a fresh warning to Washington.

On Saturday, November 7, Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia asserted that the country's armed forces were stronger than they were when the war began in February, warning that any further US attack would invite an immediate response, with Iranian forces prepared to strike American targets without geographical restrictions.

"Today, the Islamic Republic's armed forces... having gained experience from direct confrontation with the United States and the Israeli regime, are on higher alert and are stronger than they were at the beginning of the war," he said, AFP reported, citing Iranian state media.

He added that Iranian forces now possessed "greater motivation, commitment, and self-confidence" following their direct confrontations with US and Israeli forces.

Akraminia also said that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened only if the Trump administration agreed to Iran's seven conditions.

Tehran warns of wider retaliation

The Iranian spokesperson's remarks came amid Trump's renewed threats against Tehran. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, Trump said the US was "locked and loaded" to launch another operation against Iran.

"We're building more weapons right now in our military than we've ever built before. If we have to do the rest of the Iran thing, we're very much locked and loaded," he said.

Trump said he was undecided about launching another attack, adding, "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country, if possible, but maybe I'll have to."

He also defended his decision to go to war, saying he would "do it again" if faced with the same choice. He claimed that Israel and the wider Middle East would not exist if he had not stopped Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Trump also confirmed that the US military had carried out fresh, limited strikes against Iran, targeting an air-defence system.

"They knocked out – they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five," he told reporters.

Iranian state media reported two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, located in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments.

Trump did not offer further details about the target. US officials have reported that most of Iran's air-defence systems were destroyed or severely degraded during Israel's June 2025 bombardment and in the early stages of the current conflict. US officials have assessed that Iran would attempt to rebuild these systems and other military infrastructure over time.

Friday's strikes were the first since Trump's Republican Party suffered a major setback in Tuesday's US midterm elections. Voter dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the conflict and elevated fuel prices, a consequence of the war that has affected nearly every sector of the global economy, contributed to the electoral setback.

Also read: Trump admits Iran war cost Republicans midterm votes, says he would do it again

In the days since the elections, Trump has alternated between threatening to "destroy" Iran and suggesting that a resolution to the war could be near.

Qatar's proposal seeks to break nuclear deadlock

Earlier on Friday, officials from the two West Asian countries said Iran was reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar, aimed at addressing differences with the US over Tehran's nuclear programme.

However, one of the officials stressed that Iran remained unwilling to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration over its nuclear activities until the US agreed to several core conditions that Tehran wants included in any ceasefire agreement.

The differences over Iran's nuclear programme remain the most contentious issue, with Trump insisting that they must be resolved as part of any agreement to end the more than eight-month-old war.

Both officials were not authorised to comment publicly on the delicate negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in West Asia, announced in a post on X (Formerly Twitter) late Friday that the US was offering "a reward of up to USD 20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran's nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above."

The post included a link to the State Department's Rewards for Justice programme.

Iran sets conditions for resuming nuclear negotiations

The White House declined to comment on the proposals presented by Qatar. However, Trump said earlier on Friday that discussions between mediators and Iran were continuing.

"We are talking to Iran. We have been," Trump said, insisting that the US military remained in control of the conflict.

Also read: What are Iran’s 7 conditions for the US to resume peace talks?

Tehran, however, continues to demand several concessions from Washington, which Trump has rejected in the past. Among Iran's key conditions before engaging in nuclear negotiations are an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions, the unfreezing of its assets, compensation for war damage and an end to hostilities across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.

Two-day bridge deal discussed

Mediators and Iran have discussed a potential bridge deal aimed at paving the way for further negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme, according to regional officials.

The proposal, recently presented to both sides by Qatari mediators, calls for implementing confidence-building measures over two days.

These include lifting the US blockade and releasing some of the billions of dollars in Iranian frozen funds seized over the years as part of Washington's campaign to isolate Tehran over its nuclear programme. In return, Iran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors access to sites bombed by the US and Israel, the officials said.

On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a modified agreement reached between Iran and Oman, which has not yet been approved by the US. The arrangement would be temporary until a permanent agreement on the waterway is reached in cooperation with other Gulf countries, they said.

Following the implementation of these measures, the US and Iran would begin extensive talks addressing Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other aspects of its nuclear programme.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful. According to the IAEA, Iran has 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent purity, a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Regional powers step up diplomatic outreach

A flurry of diplomatic phone calls in recent days between leaders in the Persian Gulf and beyond has been aimed at easing tensions in the region. Concerns have mounted over the possibility that Trump could still order the US military to carry out fresh strikes against Iran.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Friday with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, about developments in the region, according to the Qatari government.

Qatar announced the call between the two countries' defence officials after confirming earlier on Friday that Trump and the Qatari Emir had held a separate conversation to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held phone calls with his Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts on Friday to discuss regional tensions. During his conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Araghchi discussed Tehran's position on resuming negotiations with the US, according to Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who held two calls with Araghchi this week, said in a post on X on Friday that it was critical for both sides to demonstrate "flexibility" and work towards the "compromise solutions" needed to prevent the region from sliding into another wave of escalation.

Egypt's top diplomat also spoke with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressing the importance of political negotiations to prevent another military confrontation that could fuel further violence and destruction, according to a statement from Egypt's Foreign Ministry.

(With agency inputs)