WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Monday, vowing that the Islamic Republic will “pay many times over” for any American service members killed in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
“Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He said the directive has been relayed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Daniel Caine, and all military leaders.
The statement comes as the United States continues airstrikes on Iranian targets, primarily in southern Iran. Tehran has responded with its own strikes on U.S. military facilities and bases in the region.
The Pentagon confirmed three U.S. deaths over the weekend: two at a base in Jordan and one in northern Iraq.
The flare-up persists despite a Pakistani-brokered framework agreement signed in June aimed at ending the war and securing a lasting peace.
Separate Statement on Netanyahu
In a related post, Trump declared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not face arrest in the United States “in any way, shape, or form.”
“He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which recently killed 52,000 innocent protestors, and has spent the last 47 years killing American Soldiers, and others,” Trump wrote. He added that those who should face justice are the leaders who “led Iran into this unprecedented spiral of death and destruction.”
The comments follow reports that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told The New York Times his administration is discussing potential action against Netanyahu during any U.S. visit. Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” who belongs in The Hague, citing ICC charges.
Netanyahu recently postponed a planned U.S. visit from this month to September.
