Tensions in the Middle East intensified on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that a “big wave” of attacks against Iran is still to come, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with CNN, Trump said Washington had not yet begun its most forceful military actions. “We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn't even happened. The big one is coming soon,” he said, adding that it remains unclear who is leading Iran following reports of the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump also declined to rule out deploying U.S. ground forces to Iran. In remarks to the New York Post, he said, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground,” though he suggested such a move would likely not be necessary unless circumstances demanded it.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that there are currently no American troops operating inside Iran. Addressing reporters, he described the strikes as targeted and limited in scope. “This is not Iraq. This is not an endless war,” Hegseth said, stressing that the United States would go “as far as we need” to protect its interests.

The conflict has widened beyond Iran’s borders. Israel launched retaliatory strikes in Beirut, saying it had targeted a senior operative from Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities responded by announcing a ban on Hezbollah’s military activities, with the prime minister stating that Lebanon must not be dragged further into regional escalation.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and east Jerusalem, and asserted that they have struck 500 U.S. and Israeli sites since the start of hostilities. These claims could not be independently verified.

The situation has also impacted global energy markets. Qatar announced a halt in liquefied natural gas production due to the expanding strikes, raising concerns about supply disruptions.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he discussed Iran and regional security with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Writing on social media platform X, Rutte stressed the alliance’s “360-degree security approach” and its readiness to deter threats “from any direction.”

In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for Lebanon to be spared from further escalation, urging restraint from all sides.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, speaking to France 24, described the conflict as “a just war,” arguing that Iran had miscalculated by expanding its attacks to Gulf states and beyond.