US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Iran would “pay many times over” for any American troops killed amid escalating hostilities between the two countries in the Middle East.
“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He said the directive had been conveyed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Daniel Caine, and senior US military leaders.
The remarks came as the United States continued airstrikes targeting sites in southern Iran, while Tehran responded with attacks on facilities and bases it says are used by US forces in several countries across the region.
The Pentagon confirmed that three US service members were killed over the weekend, including two at a military base in Jordan and one in northern Iraq.
The renewed exchange of attacks comes despite a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June aimed at ending the conflict and paving the way for a lasting peace agreement.
According to CNN, the United States and Iran have discussed a 10-day ceasefire to halt hostilities and facilitate a return to negotiations. The proposal reportedly includes easing restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
A White House official said Washington would continue pursuing diplomacy while responding to what it described as Iran’s violations of the memorandum of understanding and attacks on US personnel.
“Right now, President Trump is focused on making Iran pay for their violations of the MOU and their continued acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz,” the official said, adding that military operations would continue while negotiations between the two countries remained ongoing.