Trump claims Iran plotted to 'take over the entire Middle East' after touting bombing raid

President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran on Friday, claiming the country had plans to dominate the Middle East shortly after announcing a major U.S. military strike.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that “Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel.”

“JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!” the president added.

Trump’s ominous remarks came less than an hour after he announced that he had ordered “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East."

According to Trump’s earlier post, the operation “totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”