Trump calls the ongoing conflict with Iran "small potatoes"

US President Donald Trump calls the ongoing conflict with Iran "small potatoes"

after intensified exchanges of attacks since last weekend.

Iran's army spokesperson meanwhile, justifies his country's recent strikes

on neighbouring Gulf nations as "preemptive" and fully justified under

United Nations Charter.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high at the Strait of Hormuz as both parties claim

control over the vital waterway.

At a latest press briefing, US President Donald Trump downplays the

ongoing conflict with Iran after a latest renewed round of attacks between

the nations. Trump defends Vice President JD Vance for asserting that months

of on-and-off attacks in the Middle East are not a "war."

Meanwhile residents in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas

denounces strikes on the country harming civilians,

days after five people were killed in a nearby town.

The attack came amid the latest round of American

bombardment in southern Iran that the US military says was targeting

air defences, radar systems and maritime assets.

This as Iran's army spokesperson calls the

recent strikes carried out on neighbouring Gulf countries to target US

facilities and interests in response to American strikes on Iranian territory

"deterrent" and "preemptive."

Speaking on state television, General Mohammad Akramnia says

since the 12-day war in 2025, Iran had been moving toward a doctrine

of preemptive strikes, which he calls "fully legitimate"

under the UN Charter.

Akramnia says Iran had acted before the US

could strike in several instances.

This as the two sides continue to dispute over the

control of the Strait of Hormuz

with US' Vance earlier insisting

a near prewar level of Gulf oil was now making its way

out of the critical waterway.