Iran-US war latest: Trump threatens to ‘blow the entire nation up’ after Tehran warns of ‘painful strikes’

Smoke seen rising near Riyadh airportDonald Trump has threatened to “blow the entire nation up” in another bombastic rant against the Iranian regime, amid concerns the US is planning to scale up its war in the region. Speaking to Fox’s Trey Yingst, the US president said the “question” was “if and when” it would be required to “blow the entire nation up” if Tehran failed to agree to his demands. “They better behave,” Yingst said the president told him of Iran’s government, adding that the choices included “wiping them out, letting Iran rot economically, or making a deal”. It comes after Tehran warned the US and Middle East regions they will be targeted by “painful strikes” if they make “any mistake” against Iran. It comes as the US State Department issued a security alert warning Americans in the Middle East that hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen had the “potential to escalate rapidly”. At least 11 US embassies in the region issued a warning that travel disruptions are possible. Very big things going to happen': Trump says he is in ‘deciding mode’ on Iran warUS president Donald Trump said he is in “deciding mode” over the Iran war, warning that “big things are going to happen”.His remarks come as both the US and Iran exchange threats again. Tehran also said it had shared its conditions with Washington, through mediators, for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.Mr Trump told Fox News he was in “deciding mode” and warned that "very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future” if the Iranian regime does not “behave”."My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They had better behave,” he said.He discussed three possible options for the war: “wiping Iran out,” “letting them rot economically”, or “making a deal.Stuti Mishra21 September 2026 04:16Iranian state actors targeting UK dissidents, activists and journalists with spywareDissidents, activists and journalists were targeted by state actors that impersonated their contacts on messaging apps to trick them into downloading spyware called Chosen Brick, the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, warned.The malware gave agents access to the person’s contacts, emails and social media messages as well as a device’s microphone and content on the screen.Maryam Zakir-Hussain21 September 2026 03:00Iran informed that US plans to resume action, state media reportsIran has received information that the United States, with the backing of some regional countries, was preparing to resume actions against Iran, the country's central military command said in a statement on Sunday, according to state media.Reuters reported that the military said any US attack would ⁠trigger sustained strikes on US bases and interests in the region, the report added.It warned that regional ​countries supporting ‌US aggression ⁠against Iran would ⁠be considered parties ‌to ​the conflict.Alex Croft21 September 2026 01:30Arab and Muslim nations condemn Houthi attack on RiyadhEgypt, Jordan and Kuwait said the Houthi attack on Riyadh was a threat to regional security and stability and a violation of international law.The nations in separate statements said their governments stand with Saudi Arabia in support of its sovereignty and protection of its civilians.The Muslim World League also condemned the attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure as a violation of “all religious values as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.”It was the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted since the escalation in fighting with the Iran-backed rebels opened a new front in the Iran war.Saudi Arabia said the attack was intercepted.Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport.There were no reports of casualties or damage.Alex Croft21 September 2026 00:00Watch: US Air Force officer recalls 'free-falling' to ground with damaged parachute after plane was shot down over IranUS Air Force officer recalls 'free-falling' to ground with damaged parachute after plane was shot down over IranAlex Croft20 September 2026 23:00Tourists turn to the Balkans and Brazil: How the Middle East conflict has redrawn our holiday mapTurkey, Romania and Hungary are out – while Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia are in.Reading the latest Eurocontrol numbers on travel to Europe, it seems that western Balkans countries are proving increasingly attractive to travellers this summer, while many turn away from nations to the east. Europe’s air traffic management coordinator Eurocontrol released data last week showing that Europe experienced record air traffic this summer – with an average of 35,959 daily flights – but that that traffic distribution was “influenced throughout summer 2026 by the Middle East crisis”.How war in the Middle East has changed the way we travelAs the war between the US, Israel and Iran continues to disrupt flight routes and rattle traveller confidence, tourism is shifting away from the Middle East and its neighbours – with the Balkans, South America and northeast Asia among the surprising winners. Global Travel Editor Annabel Grossman reports on how conflict is reshaping our global movements in the latest Travel Insider newsletterShweta Sharma20 September 2026 22:00Iran mobilisation drive extends to children under 15The spokesman for Iran’s mass mobilisation campaign has said children under 15 could be introduced to military concepts, according to Iran International.While the main organisation of volunteers would be based around adults over the age of 18, younger people would be brought into the initiative, a spokesman for the Janfada campaign told Iranian news agency ILNA.“The stronger their value system is formed from childhood, and the more familiar they become with concepts such as patriotism and self-sacrifice, the more significant the impact can be on their future,” Sasan Zare said.Members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force take part in a military rally named Jan-Fada (those willing to sacrifice their lives) in Tehran (AFP/Getty)Alex Croft20 September 2026 21:01US Central Command estimates Iran war cost at $43.6 billionUS Central Command has said the cost of the war with Iran reached about $43.6 billion as of 3 September, according to a new assessment submitted to members of Congress and reported by Associated Press.The estimate represents the latest assessment of the costs of the conflict.According to the report, the cost of weapons and munitions used by US forces increased by more than $6 billion in just over a month, reaching about $28.1 billion, compared with $21.7 billion in a previous estimate.The reported costs include the operation of warships, aircraft and military bases, as well as equipment losses and medical support for US forces.It does not include damage to US bases in the Middle East from Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.Alex Croft20 September 2026 20:02Inflation too high across US economy amid war, says Federal Reserve chiefInflation in the US is too high across all sectors of the economy, not just in rising oil prices, Minneapolis Federal Reserve president Neel Kashkari said on Sunday.Crude oil prices soared after hostilities intensified with the US and Iran attacking and sinking some oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi Arabia closing its vital East-West pipeline ​due to aerial attacks in the widening Middle East war."So even if we strip out energy, which is really volatile, and strip out food - they matter a lot - but in terms of where the economy is going, inflation is still too high," Kashkari told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."He supported the unanimous vote last week to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 3.75 per cent-4 per cent. Kashkari was one of three officials to dissent at the Fed's prior meeting in favour of a hike when the majority of the Federal Open Market Committee then opted to leave rates unchanged.Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (Getty)Alex Croft20 September 2026 19:01Iran informed that US plans to resume action, state media reportsIran has received information that the United States, with the backing of some regional countries, was preparing to resume actions against Iran, the country's central military command said in a statement on Sunday, according to state media.Reuters reported that the military said any US attack would ⁠trigger sustained strikes on US bases and interests in the region, the report added.It warned that regional ​countries supporting ‌US aggression ⁠against Iran would ⁠be considered parties ‌to ​the conflict.Alex Croft20 September 2026 18:00