Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has triggered fresh global concern after posting a cryptic and dramatic message on his social media platform Truth Social amid escalating tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
On Sunday, President Trump shared an AI-generated image carrying the caption, “It Was The Calm Before The Storm,” a statement widely interpreted as a warning linked to the rapidly deteriorating situation in West Asia.
The image showed Trump wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap while standing aboard a US Navy vessel alongside a senior naval officer. The backdrop featured turbulent seas, lightning and multiple warships carrying Iranian flags, intensifying speculation over possible military escalation.
The post came as reports emerged that the White House is actively considering renewed military action against Iran following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations and ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, President Trump returned to Washington after his visit to Beijing and immediately began high-level discussions with senior officials over the Iran situation. Administration aides are reportedly preparing plans for fresh military strikes if diplomatic efforts fail.
The proposed diplomatic framework reportedly seeks to convince Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while allowing Trump to present the outcome as a major strategic victory. However, Trump publicly dismissed the latest Iranian proposal.
“I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” Trump reportedly said while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
The Pentagon has also reportedly finalised contingency plans for the possible revival of “Operation Epic Fury,” a military campaign that had earlier been paused after Trump announced a temporary ceasefire.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that the American military remains prepared for escalation if required. Reports indicate that military planners are considering expanded airstrikes targeting Iranian military bases and strategic infrastructure.
Another option reportedly under discussion involves deploying American Special Operations forces to target underground nuclear material stored at Iran’s heavily fortified Isfahan nuclear facility. Several hundred specialised troops are believed to have already been deployed to the Middle East earlier this year to maintain readiness for such an operation.
Iran has strongly reacted to the growing rhetoric from Washington. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran’s armed forces are fully prepared for retaliation in case of any attack.
“Our armed forces are ready to deliver a well-deserved response to any aggression,” he said in a statement posted on social media.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis. Nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major threat to global energy markets and international trade.
Meanwhile, China and Russia have urged immediate de-escalation and called for uninterrupted maritime trade in the Gulf region as fears of renewed conflict continue to shake international markets.
Despite mounting tensions and speculation over a potential military operation reportedly being discussed under a framework called “Operation Sledgehammer,” the White House has not officially confirmed any imminent strike against Iran.
