Politics
Trump told Fox News he is in deciding mode and asked publicly if and when do I blow the entire nation up. Iran's military command warned of unlimited retaliation on US bases and any regional country that helps. Seven months in. Congress still has not voted.
NewsOnScale Staff
September 21, 2026
Seven months into an undeclared war that Congress never authorized, the United States and Iran are closer to a major escalation than at any point since February 28.
President Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he is in deciding mode on the war with Iran. He said very big things are going to happen. He asked publicly — My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They had better behave.
Iran's military command responded the same day. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees Iran's armed forces, said it had received information that the United States is preparing to resume strikes. It warned that any renewed attack would bring retaliation against American bases and interests without any limitations or considerations. It warned that regional countries that allowed their territory or facilities to support US attacks would be considered complicit and could face an Iranian response.
What Both Sides Are Actually Saying
Trump: Deciding mode. Very big things. If and when do I blow the entire nation up.
Iran: We have information an attack is being prepared. Any attack will bring unlimited retaliation. Regional countries that help the US will be considered complicit.
Iran's conditions for talks: Seven conditions conveyed through Qatari mediators.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent: Iranian airlines will effectively be shut down beginning Wednesday under the threat of US secondary sanctions. The Iranian rial has tanked below two million rials to the dollar. Inflation is spiking. Foreign currency reserves are down.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi: If the US attacks again Iran will introduce new weapons with new capabilities. The world will be astonished.
The Seven Month Record
March 9 — Trump said the war is very complete, pretty much and falsely claimed the Iranian military had been destroyed and the Strait of Hormuz had reopened.
April 6-7 — Trump threatened to decimate Iran in one night. Pakistan mediated. Trump suspended bombing.
April 21 — Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely.
June 12 — New ceasefire conditions agreed.
June 17 — The Islamabad Memorandum signed — a memorandum of understanding formalizing the process of ending the war and establishing a 60-day negotiation period.
July 8 — The ceasefire collapsed after attacks by both sides.
September 21 — Trump says he is in deciding mode. Iran warns of unlimited retaliation. The UN General Assembly is meeting this week.
What Has Not Changed
Congress has not declared war. Congress has not authorized the military operations. The House has voted three times to end the conflict through non-binding resolutions. The Senate has not voted at all. Congress is home for the midterms.
Six Americans are dead. American bases in Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan have been struck. A UN fact-finding mission found war crimes in February strikes on a primary school and a women's volleyball facility. The Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. Gas is $4.48 per gallon. Diesel is at record highs.
The Strait was open before February 28. The US struck Iran on substantially Israeli intelligence. Iran closed the Strait in response.
None of that has changed. What has changed is that seven months later the president is publicly asking if and when do I blow the entire nation up while Iran warns of unlimited retaliation and the American military had planes in the air this spring based on a false AI-generated intelligence report about a Chinese ship.
What Comes Next
The UN General Assembly is meeting this week. Trump is scheduled to meet with six Gulf allies. Qatar is pushing to revive talks. Iran has conveyed seven conditions for negotiations.
Whether the deciding mode produces renewed large-scale strikes, an economic pressure campaign, a negotiated settlement, or continued low-intensity conflict is a decision being made without a congressional vote — the way every decision in this conflict has been made since February 28.
DISCLOSURE: NewsOnScale is an independent media publication owned and operated by AMILLI AI CORP. JJ Johnson is the founder of AMILLI AI CORP and a declared candidate for President of the United States in 2028. All facts in this article are drawn from Fox News, NBC News Today, Al Jazeera, India TV News, The Nation Pakistan, Wikipedia's documentation of the 2026 Iran war ceasefire, and Reuters reporting published September 21 2026.