President Donald Trump is reportedly “willing to escalate US military involvement if necessary,” according to a senior White House official who spoke to CNN on Monday, just hours after Iran launched retaliatory ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The attack came in response to last weekend’s US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in a precision operation involving B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. While the Qatari Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses successfully intercepted the Iranian barrage, the symbolic weight of the strike—targeting the largest US airbase in the Gulf—marked the first direct Iranian attack on a US base since 2020.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack under “Operation Besharat Fatah,” describing it as a “powerful missile assault” planned by the Supreme National Security Council. According to IRGC statements, Al Udeid represents “the most strategic asset of the US terrorist army in West Asia.” Yet multiple Iranian sources confirmed to the New York Times that Tehran coordinated the strike in advance with Qatari officials to minimize casualties—mirroring its 2020 retaliation for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, when Iran provided Iraq with a heads-up before attacking the Al-Asad Air Base.
The goal, they said, was to send a clear message of deterrence while preserving space for de-escalation. US officials noted no American personnel were killed in Monday’s strike, and early Pentagon assessments suggest the missiles did not hit critical infrastructure.
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Still, the White House remains on high alert. Trump spent Monday afternoon in the Situation Room meeting with senior defense officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair General Dan Caine, to assess options. While Trump has consistently said he seeks to avoid a prolonged Middle East war, officials confirmed he remains open to further military action if Iran continues its retaliation.
Homeland Security issued an updated domestic alert warning of a “heightened threat environment,” citing chatter about possible IRGC-linked sleeper cell activity inside the US—a threat reportedly communicated to the White House through intermediaries at the recent G7 summit in Canada.
Tehran’s retaliation coincided with growing diplomatic fallout. Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s missile strike on Qatar as a “flagrant violation of international law” and pledged full solidarity with Doha, even offering “all capabilities” in support of any measures Qatar may take.
The Kingdom’s strongly worded statement reflects regional fears that a wider conflict could engulf the Gulf Cooperation Council, especially after Iran’s parliament voted to approve a preliminary bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iranian state media later announced plans to “accelerate” nuclear activity, claiming the damaged sites would be rebuilt “with greater power.” This declaration follows reports that enriched uranium may have been relocated prior to the U.S. bombing campaign—casting doubt on claims that the strikes set back Iran’s program significantly.
Ceasefire, maybe?
Amid rising tension, Trump unexpectedly announced on Truth Social that a “Complete and Total CEASEFIRE” had been agreed upon between Israel and Iran, slated to begin in staggered phases over 24 hours.
“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!” Trump wrote, hailing the so-called “12-Day War” as over.
But Iranian officials quickly rejected the claim with an Iranian official allegedly saying that, “Tehran has not received any proposals for a ceasefire.”
“There is no agreement,” Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared, adding that any halt in military operations would depend on an immediate end to Israeli aggression.
Still, Iranian media declared a unilateral ceasefire several hours later—roughly 18 minutes after launching what they claim were the final waves of missiles.
The ceasefire framework, as outlined by CBS and PressTV, appears to have been mediated by Qatar and the US. Under the deal, Iran would stop strikes at midnight Eastern Time, while Israel would pause 12 hours later. After 24 hours of mutual de-escalation, the war would be “formally considered over.”
But even this arrangement has been chaotic in execution. Israeli forces continued striking Iranian targets into the early hours of Tuesday, and Iran fired several final volleys just before—and slightly after—the ceasefire window began. Multiple waves of missiles were reported by Israeli officials and independent monitors, casting doubt on whether either side is adhering strictly to the phased wind-down.
Meanwhile, the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohammad Reza Siddiqi during Israeli strikes has reignited fears of broader escalation, especially if Tehran responds with further covert or asymmetric attacks.
Iran has made clear that, regardless of the ceasefire timeline, its posture toward the US and Israel remains unchanged: it will not tolerate “any attack on territorial integrity or national sovereignty under any circumstances.”
Trump meanwhile appears to be having a bad time, summarizing the recent events rather succinctly.
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