Trump says U.S. may target new parts of Iran in escalating war

President Donald Trump said the US will consider striking areas and groups of people in Iran that were not previously considered targets, escalating a week-long war that’s upended energy markets and reverberated worldwide. 

“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump said in a social media post in the early hours of Saturday, as the US and Israel bombarded Tehran and other cities for an eighth day. The attacks will continue “until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!”

The post came after Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed not to back down as Tehran maintained missile strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting American military forces. “The idea that we would surrender unconditionally — they must take such a dream to the grave,” he said in a speech. 

Pezeshkian — who sits on the three-man interim leadership council after US and Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28 — said he’s told the military not to attack any nation that isn’t striking the Islamic Republic. He apologized to neighboring countries, without being specific, calling them “our brothers.”

The conciliatory language wasn’t backed by action, as Iran launched drones and missiles at Qatar and Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates said it continued to fend off projectiles. Kuwait, OPEC’s fifth-biggest producer, reduced oil and refinery production, citing the “ongoing aggression by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Saudi Arabia intercepted drones that were heading toward a major oil field, the latest energy asset to be targeted in a conflict that’s triggered a surge in crude and gas prices.  

Trump said the US is giving “serious........

© Fortune