Iran-US war latest: Trump says Iran has ‘evil intentions’ and signals conflict will go on – UK Times

The Republican-led US House ​of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he obtained Congress’ approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, ⁠similar measure.

The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favour of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it.

But the Senate voted 49 to 47 to block its own ⁠war powers measure within hours of the ​House ⁠vote.

The House resolution was largely symbolic. Lawmakers ​have ⁠passed similar resolutions repeatedly in ‌recent months.

Donald Trump has threatened a “major military punishment” against Iran after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels bombed two Saudi oil tankers off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

The attacks threaten to further disrupt oil supply in a sign that the war is spreading across the region, as the Houthis warn they will cut off the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the critical waterways through which oil flows.

“The U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also threatened punishment fore the Houthis, who he said he is “very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart”.

It comes as US secretary of state Marco Rubio has claimed Iran is “begging for a deal” amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, while warning that Tehran will face intensifying US strikes “every night until they come to their senses”.

The US military said it had carried out a 12th straight night of strikes against Iran in the early hours of Thursday, including the first use of B-1 long-range bombers in weeks.

Iran has evil intentions, US president Donald Trump has claimed, hinting he may step up military attacks on the country.

Repeating his insistence that the regime must not have a nuclear weapon, he said: “We’re doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He added: “They need more of the same. They’re not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.”

Donald Trump has boasted that the death toll in Iran of 18 Americans is much lower than the numbers killed in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where thousands were killed.

“One is too many,” he said, “but it’s 18, whereas in Vietnam we lost 200,000, we lost thosuands and thousands in Afghanistan, we lost thousands in every war, the Korean War, thousands, and these wars all lasted for years.”

Insisting the US could not let Iran have nuclear weapons, he said: “We’re doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We’re doing extremely well.”

Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, military advisers and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen this month, according to four sources, in a move that suggests Tehran is seeking to strengthen the ability of its Houthi allies to threaten Red Sea shipping.

Four sources familiar with the matter, including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister and a regional security analyst, said Iran transferred the IRGC personnel and military-related equipment on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, a development that has not been previously reported.

The two Iranian sources told Reuters that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were on the Mahan Air flight.

The plane was originally bound for the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, but diverted to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah after the airport came under attack by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

“The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,” one of the sources said, adding that Iran also sent gold on the aircraft to fund Houthi activities.

US president Donald Trump says he ⁠is ​seriously ⁠considering restarting major combat ⁠operations in ​Iran, which ⁠could ‌include larger strikes than those carried ‌out during “Operaton ‌Epic Fury”, it’s been ⁠reported.

“They haven’t received enough pain yet,” Axios quoted Trump as saying, adding ‌that he ​said ‌he had ⁠not yet ⁠made a ‌final decision.

Operation Epic Fury was the US code name for its military operation against Iran from February to May.

The threat marks yet another potential blow to the global economy as Tehran continues to frustrate Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the war he began with Israel in February to a close.

The Houthis control areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which sits on the opposite end of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK said on Wednesday it was temporarily withdrawing diplomatic staff in Iran over rising tensions in the region.

“Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

They reiterated their travel advice, telling people not to go to Iran.

“If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying,” they said.