Iran-US war latest: Trump mocked over AI video of fake strikes after president threatens to ‘smack’ Tehran

Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran “hard” after the US and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in a month, warning that “there will be a response” following Iranian missile strikes on US military bases. Iran launched its strikes targeting US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates following US attacks on Larak Island, the first American strikes on the Islamic Republic since late July. Despite the renewed hostilities, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasised that Tehran is still seeking a negotiated solution to its conflict with the US. Trump also warned earlier that the American military may still “smack” Iran despite it being a “failed nation”. Meanwhile, the US president posted an AI-generated video of Kharg Island being “blown to smithereens.” Hamid Bovard, the chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co, insisted oil operations had not stopped on the island and called Trump’s post on Truth Social “laughable”. Vance says US now focused on free flow of commerce in Strait of Hormuz US vice president JD Vance said Washington’s immediate priority was restoring the “free flow of commerce” through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the US strike on Larak Island was aimed at preventing Iran from laying mines in the key shipping route. He accused Iran’s leadership of acting “not with a whole lot of strategic wisdom” in trying to choke off oil and gas exports. “What’s odd to me is that they will sometimes fire at their own allies just to prevent the free flow of oil and gas,” he said, calling Iran’s leaders “really crazy”. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 08:00Iran president tells Pakistan PM war not in Tehran’s interest Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has told Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif that continuing the war was not in Iran’s interest and said Tehran remained willing to implement a US-Iran memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan in June. He spoke with Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan on Monday. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV said the escalation between the US and Tehran followed a tanker hitting two Iranian naval mines while trying to pass through the southern Strait of Hormuz. It said three ships had been targeted for using an unauthorised route. The IRGC warned other vessels that they must comply with Iran’s rules for passage or face the same fate. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 07:30US treasury secretary warns sanctions could trigger economic collapse in Iran within months US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Washington’s sanctions campaign is putting severe pressure on Iran’s economy and could trigger an economic collapse within months unless Tehran agrees to negotiations. Bessent said: “I would think that they are lashing out kinetically because they are losing economically.” He added that “within weeks or months” the Iranian economy could collapse, though he stressed that this “does not have to happen”, saying: “We just have to have the regime come to their senses.” Bessent also warned that the US plans to impose new sanctions every week, targeting banks and potentially cutting institutions off from the dollar-based financial system. “You’re going to see a lot more of these every week,” he said. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 07:00Iran calls Trump’s AI video of attack on key oil export hub ‘laughable’ Iran has denied Donald Trump’s claim that Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, was being “blown to smithereens”, calling his posts “laughable”. “Trump's tweets are laughable and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate,” National Iranian Oil Company chief Hamid Bovard was cited as saying by Nournews. Trump had shared an AI video of the attack on Kharg Island earlier on his Truth Social. Bovard said the island remained calm and oil operations had continued without interruption despite repeated US and Israeli attacks. Kharg handles about 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 06:30Oil prices rise amid renewed clashes between US and Iran Oil prices rose on Tuesday as renewed fighting between the US and Iran heightened fears of disruptions to crude supplies from the oil-rich Middle East. Brent crude futures gained 56 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $91.05 a barrel by 0044 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 83 cents, or 1 per cent, to $86.59 a barrel. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 06:00Vance says US military is 'big enough' to handle threats, despite reports of munitions shortages JD Vance has said the US military is “big enough” to handle threats, despite reports of munitions shortages. “Are you concerned about reports of weapon shortages, the strain on the forces? Is the U.S. Military big enough to handle threats around the world, including China?” Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson asked the US vice president in a new interview. “Look, we're clearly big enough to handle threats around the world, including China”, Vance replied. “As the president has said, we want to have a positive relationship with the PRC [People’s Republic of China]”. Rachel Dobkin1 September 2026 05:30Hegseth hired conservative influencers who amplify his ‘warrior ethos’ mantra: report A handful of high-profile conservative influencers have reportedly been working as undisclosed government employees and using their huge social media followings to praise US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defend the Trump administration’s policies. Maness and Schlichter have active government email addresses ending in “.civ” – meaning they are civilian employees – and are assigned to the Defense Department’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness, sources told the Post. Read on... Ariana Baio1 September 2026 04:59Trump threatens to hit Iran ‘hard’ Donald Trump has threatened to “hit them hard” after the US and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in a month, warning that “there will be a response” following Iranian missile strikes on US military bases in Jordan. He called Iran “officially a failed nation without an airforce, a navy or a currency”. The latest escalation began when US forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran was preparing to deploy naval mines in the crucial waterway. Iran retaliated by targeting US bases, while the UAE said it intercepted an Iranian drone. The renewed fighting comes as Washington intensifies sanctions aimed at crippling Iran’s economy and seeks to loosen Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. Maroosha Muzaffar1 September 2026 04:30Full story: Trump’s Army Secretary resigns after reportedly clashing with Hegseth US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months on the job, the White House said Monday, in the latest departure of a top military leader during the Trump administration. No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, who is a friend of Vice President JD Vance, but tensions with Hegseth have been widely reported. It marks the latest in a series of shakeups of the military leadership, with the Army especially seeing major upheaval.