Trump, Netanyahu Signal Ongoing Iran War, More Strikes Possible
Severity: WARNING
Detected: 2026-05-10T16:08:46.805Z
Summary
Between 15:24 and 16:01 UTC, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly stated that military operations against Iran are not over, with only about 70% of targets hit and further strikes and uranium‑related actions possible. The comments indicate the current pause is tactical, not a de‑escalation, keeping the risk of renewed large‑scale attacks and wider regional spillover elevated. Energy and global risk markets remain highly exposed to any follow‑on action.
Details
Between 15:24 and 16:01 UTC on 10 May 2026, multiple public statements clarified that the US–Israeli campaign against Iran is ongoing and may intensify again.
At 15:24:38 UTC (Report 1), President Donald Trump said, "I didn’t say the war in Iran is over. We got maybe 70%. We may have to go in there about two more weeks." A fuller exchange filed at 16:01:09 UTC (Report 20) has Trump stating that military operations have not ended, that roughly 70% of targets have been struck, and that the US could conduct "another two weeks of strikes and hit every single target." In a separate Iran‑related remark at 16:01:09 UTC (Report 21), Trump warned that if anyone approaches Iran’s enriched uranium "buried deep under the rubble," US forces would "blow them up," citing persistent space‑based surveillance.
Concurrently, at 16:00:42 UTC (Report 40), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "the war with Iran is not over" due to remaining enriched uranium, undismantled enrichment sites, and Iranian proxies and ballistic missile programs. He said Israel had degraded much of this capability but emphasized that "there is work to be done."
These coordinated public messages from the US and Israeli heads of government indicate that the current lull in large‑scale strikes is operational, not political. Both leaders are signaling intent to maintain military pressure on Iran until nuclear‑ and missile‑related objectives are further degraded and proxy networks contained. The explicit reference to a potential two‑week additional strike window suggests campaign planning timelines rather than ad hoc contingency talk.
Militarily, this keeps Iran on high alert, incentivizing continued dispersal of assets, hardening of remaining facilities, and possible asymmetric responses via proxies such as Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and Houthi forces. The rhetoric around enriched uranium sites raises the risk of future attacks on sensitive nuclear infrastructure, which Tehran could view as crossing a red line and respond accordingly, including in the Strait of Hormuz or via cyber means.
For markets, these statements reinforce that geopolitical risk premia in crude oil, refined products, and LNG shipping are justified and may not compress soon. Any renewed wave of strikes—especially near nuclear or major energy infrastructure—would likely trigger a sharp upside move in Brent and WTI, a bid into gold and US Treasuries, and risk‑off moves in global equities, with particular pressure on airlines, shipping, and EM assets tied to the Middle East. Currency markets will watch for haven flows into USD and CHF, and potential weakness in currencies of energy‑importing nations. Over the next 24–48 hours, attention should focus on satellite‑tracked force postures, Iranian proxy activity around Israel and Gulf shipping lanes, and any further clarifying statements from Pentagon or IDF spokespeople on the pace and scope of upcoming operations.
MARKET IMPACT ASSESSMENT: High ongoing upside risk for crude and refined products, safe‑haven bid for gold, and elevated volatility in risk assets and EM FX exposed to Middle East flows. Defense equities remain supported. Any indication of renewed large‑scale strikes could trigger another leg higher in oil and volatility.
Sources
- OSINT