President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Saturday (March 7), saying Iran would be "hit very hard" as the week-old U.S.-Israeli military campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, continued to escalate across the Middle East.

"Today Iran will be hit very hard!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time."

Trump made the remarks after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly apologized to neighboring Gulf nations for Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes, pledging Tehran would stop targeting those countries — as long as they did not attack Iran first.

Trump, speaking at the "Shield of the Americas" summit at his Doral, Florida, golf resort, told Latin American and Caribbean leaders the U.S. was doing "very well" in its campaign. "This is a service that we're providing, not for the Middle East but for the world," he said.

The president also claimed U.S. forces had destroyed 42 Iranian navy ships in just three days of strikes. "That was the end of the Navy. We knocked out their air force, we knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications is gone," Trump said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi fired back at Trump's comments, saying Tehran's willingness to de-escalate had been "almost immediately killed" by the U.S. president. Araghchi accused Trump of misreading "our capabilities, determination and intent," and warned that "any attempt at escalation is precisely what our powerful armed forces have long been prepared for."

Araghchi also accused the U.S. of striking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, saying the attack disrupted water supplies to 30 villages. "Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences," he wrote on X. "The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran."

The conflict continued to ripple across the broader region on Saturday. Qatar's Ministry of Defense confirmed its air defenses intercepted a missile targeting the country, and three large interception blasts rattled Doha, sending shockwaves across the city. Air defense activity was also reported over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.

In Dubai, one person died after debris from an aerial interception struck a vehicle in the Al Barsha neighborhood. The victim was identified as a Pakistani driver. Authorities also reported debris hitting the 88-story 23 Marina residential tower in the Dubai Marina district. The total number of fatalities in the UAE since the war began now stands at four, all foreign nationals.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued an unusually direct warning to Iran, calling Tehran an "enemy" and saying the UAE is "not easy prey." "The UAE's hand can reach and is strong, its flesh is bitter," he said while visiting a hospital treating civilians wounded in the strikes.

Jordan accused Iran of directly targeting sites inside the kingdom, saying 119 missiles and drones had been fired in the past week. Jordanian military spokesman Brigadier General Mustafa Hayari said 108 of those projectiles had been intercepted.

The U.K. confirmed Saturday that it is allowing the U.S. to use British military bases — including Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean — for "specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially refused any British role in the conflict but later reversed course, citing threats to British interests and allies in the region.

The U.S. also deployed additional long-range bombers to the United Kingdom as operations expanded.

Despite the fighting, diplomatic activity accelerated Saturday. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.K. Prime Minister Starmer. Russian President Vladimir Putin urged an immediate halt to hostilities in a call with Iranian officials.

The Arab League has scheduled an emergency video conference for Sunday to address Iranian attacks and regional security. European Union leaders are set to meet with Middle Eastern counterparts via video conference on Monday, and China announced its special envoy will travel to the region to help facilitate de-escalation.

Bob Lonsberry

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