US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the United States would respond with a “force never seen before” if Tehran escalates military retaliation following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a public statement, Trump reacted to Iranian claims that it was preparing to strike harder than ever. “They better not do that,” he said, warning that any intensified attack would trigger an overwhelming American response.

The warning comes as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed severe retaliation for Khamenei’s death, which was confirmed by Iranian state television. The IRGC described the coming response as the “most ferocious offensive operation in history” against US and Israeli interests.

In a statement shared on its official Telegram channel, the IRGC declared that the “hand of revenge of the Iranian nation” would not relent until those responsible were punished. It said the IRGC, alongside Iran’s Armed Forces and Basij units, would continue defending the legacy of its leader while confronting what it described as internal and external threats.

The IRGC also announced the launch of the fifth wave of “Operation True Promise 4,” targeting American assets in the region. It claimed that an ammunition-support vessel servicing US forces was struck by drones near Jebel Ali anchorage, allegedly rendering it inoperable after multiple explosions.

Additionally, the Guard said a US naval base in Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Mubarak region was hit by ballistic missiles and drones, asserting that key infrastructure was destroyed and American personnel suffered casualties. These claims have not been independently verified.

The IRGC further reported striking a refueling support vessel in the Indian Ocean using Qadr-380 missiles, signaling a widening maritime dimension to the confrontation.

The rapidly intensifying rhetoric and reported strikes mark a dramatic escalation in regional tensions. Analysts warn that miscalculation could trigger broader instability across the Middle East, disrupt global shipping routes, and strain international security frameworks.

With both Washington and Tehran exchanging severe threats, global powers are closely monitoring developments amid fears of a prolonged and unpredictable conflict.