US forces to remain in Iran, declares Trump, warns of ‘bigger’ & ‘better’ shooting if peace agreement violated

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said all U.S. military assets deployed “in and around” Iran will remain in place until a “real agreement” is fully complied with, warning of a massive escalation if terms are violated.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said U.S. ships, aircraft and personnel — backed by additional ammunition and weaponry — would stay positioned in the region to ensure what he described as the “lethal prosecution and destruction” of an already weakened adversary.

He added that if the agreement is not honoured, “the shootin’ starts… bigger, better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” signalling the possibility of a sharp military response.


Also Read: Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz amid Israel strikes on Lebanon, hours after ceasefire

Trump also reiterated long-standing U.S. demands that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain “open and safe,” underscoring the strategic importance of the critical global energy transit route.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia, with the U.S. maintaining a significant military presence in the region as part of deterrence efforts. Trump said the American military is “loading up and resting,” and is prepared for further action if required.

The statement marks a hardening of rhetoric and suggests Washington is prepared to sustain — and potentially escalate — its military posture depending on Iran’s compliance with any prospective agreement.

Tensions in the region have escalated sharply after Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz following reported Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to state media reports cited by the Associated Press. The closure effectively halts traffic through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG supplies transit.

Also Read: US-Iran truce brings respite, but no quick fix for India Inc's supply pain

The move has raised fresh concerns over global energy markets and maritime security, particularly as it comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

Earlier, Iran warned it could withdraw from the ceasefire arrangement, accusing Israel of violating the truce through continued strikes in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flagged what he described as repeated ceasefire violations in a conversation with Asim Munir, stating that he had discussed “the Zionist regime’s violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon,” according to an official statement.