Trump Rejects Iran Deal, Warns: ‘If They Retaliate, They’ll Be Hit Much Harder’

US President Donald Trump has dismissed the prospect of reaching a new agreement with Iran and warned Tehran that any retaliation against the latest American strikes would trigger a significantly stronger military response.

Trump made the remarks on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in an interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, following fresh US strikes on Iranian targets.

Trump: ‘They’ll Be Hit Much Harder’

Trump warned Iran against responding to the latest US military operation.

“If they retaliate, they’ll be hit much harder,” Trump said.

He went further, warning that if Iran retaliates again, the consequences could threaten the continued existence of the Islamic Republic.

Trump also described the latest US attack as a major strike and said Washington was prepared for further escalation.

Trump Rules Out Confidence in a Deal With Iran

The US president also appeared to reject the idea of relying on another agreement with Tehran.

“I think an agreement with them isn't worth the paper it's written on,” Trump told Fox News, adding that Iran had been given multiple opportunities.

The comments represent a tougher position than earlier periods during the conflict, when Trump had indicated that a negotiated settlement could potentially halt further US attacks. In August, Trump had said American forces could hold off on new strikes if a broader agreement was reached.

US Strikes Iranian Radar Facilities

Trump said the latest operation included a strike on an Iranian radar installation that Iranian forces were attempting to rebuild.

According to Trump, US forces monitored the reconstruction effort and waited until the radar was nearly operational before attacking it.

US Central Command has also announced fresh strikes against targets linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, further escalating the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Threatens to Respond

Iranian officials have responded defiantly to the latest American strikes.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the United States would regret its attacks and said severe punishment awaited the aggressors.

That response raises fears of another cycle of US strikes and Iranian retaliation.

Strait of Hormuz Remains the Main Flashpoint

The confrontation is also increasingly centred on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil-shipping routes.

Two oil tankers were reportedly hit by projectiles near the waterway, while US officials say Iran has attempted to deploy sea mines. The developments have intensified concerns about shipping and global energy supplies.

Oil prices have responded to the renewed fighting, with markets increasingly pricing in the possibility of further disruption to Middle Eastern energy supplies.